AT   LOS  ANGELES 


GIFT  OF 

L.    Campbell 


SOCIETY 
SILHOUETTES 


Collection  of  Short  Stories 


BY 
LAURA  COOKE  BARKER 


THE  HELMAN-TAYLOR  COMPANY 

CLEVELAND 

1898 


Copyright  by 

THE  HEXMAN-TAYI,OR  COMPANY 

CI^BVEI/AND,  O. 

1808. 


TS 

10G5 


CONTENTS. 


^  A  Search  for  Sensations,  -  7 

-<  The  Senator's  Wooing,  -  118 

I"      Keeping  Up  Appearances,       -  -   145 

S*'       The  Touch  of  Nature,       -  172 

Barbara's  Emancipation,  -  203 

0       A  Twentieth  Century  Romance,  228 


A  SEARCH  FOR  SENSATIONS. 


n|HE  March  wind  shrieked  about 
the  corners  of  the  house  and 
I  rattled  the  windows  like  some 

restless  spirit  clamoring  for  admittance. 

Occasionally  a  puff  of  smoke  showed 
that  it  found  an  entrance  down  the  chim 
ney  and  caused  Miss  Darlington  to  push 
her  chair  further  back  from  the  fireplace. 

Only  the  flickering  flames  illumined  the 
room  and  dimly  outlined  the  woman's 
sweet  face  as  she  sat  anxiously  watching 
her  younger  sister,  who  paced  restlessly 
about  the  small  room,  her  head  thrown 
back  defiantly. 

"  Don't  doit,  Dorris,  it  will  bring  you 
anything  but  happiness !" 

Her  sister  laughed  as  she  stooped  to 
pick  up  the  bit  of  crumpled  paper  on  the 
floor.  "Happiness!"  she  exclaimed. 
"  What  is  '  happiness '  ?  /  have  never 


8  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 

seen  it !  Father  and  mother  spent  their 
youth  in  a  battle  for  daily  bread,  even 
when  Aunt  died  and  left  them  her  few 
thousand  dollars,  it  did  not  bring  happi 
ness.  No,  I  wont  speak  of  that.  Father's 
name  is  still  a  sacred  memory  to  me, 
but  it  killed  mother  and  caused  his  death, 
too,  I  believe,  and  now  we  are  left  to 
a  mere  existence  on  the  little  that  still 
remains  and  which  permits  us  to  live  in 
this  shabby  genteel  way  !  What  is  before 
us  ?  Nothing,unless  it  is  a  chance  to  marry 
some  good,  respectable  young  clerk  on 
small  pay  and  repeat  the  history  of  our 
father  and  mother !  Ugh  !  I  will  not  do 
that !  This  is  a  chance  that  will  never 
come  to  me  again  and  I'm  going  to  take 
it.  I'm  tired  of  a  poverty-stricken  exist- 
tence!" 

"  Mere  existence  may  be  tame,  but  it 
is  not  misery,  Dorris,  and  any  woman 
who  outrages  her  nature  by  marrying  as 
you  propose  to  do  is  preparing  for  herself 
untold  wretchedness!" 

"Nonsense!    Where    is    the    'untold 


A  SEARCH  FOR  SENSATIONS.  9 

wretchedness  '  in  marrying  a  dear  old 
goose  like  John  Dryden  ?  Love  him  ?  Of 
course  I  don't,  but  that's  nothing  ;  I  never 
have — and  never  will — love  any  one  but 
you— and  myself !" 

She  glanced  again  at  the  paper  in  her 
hands.  "  What  can  I  want  that  he  will 
not  give  me  ?  Riches  untold — the  in 
dependence  which  marriage  gives  to 
a  woman — endless  new  sensations,  in 
fact !" 

Louise  sighed,  taking  the  girl's  hand  in 
hers.  "  Dorris,  dear,"  she  said,  wistfully, 
"for  twenty  years  I  have  loved  and 
watched  over  you  !  I  remember  when 
you  were  a  tiny  tot,  with  golden  curls 
and  willful  ways.  For  the  sake  of  those 
long  years  of  devotion,  I  ask  you  not  to 
do  this  awful  thing.  It  is  selling  yourself 

— your  womanhood "  she  broke  off 

abruptly. 

"  What  a  prude  you  are,  Sissy !  You 
were  born  to  be  a  decorous  old  maid, 
but  /  was  born  to  live,  to  enjoy,  to  stir 
the  world,  and  I'm  going  to  do  it  by  the 


IO  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 

use  of  John  Dryden's  millions  !  Call  it 
sin  if  you  will ;  sin  is  always  pleasant.  I 
have  often  thought  Mephistopheles  must 
be  a  charming  fellow.  Perhaps  I  shall 
make  his  acquaintance  after  I  have  '  sold 
myself  ' — who  knows !" 

She  opened  the  door  as  she  spoke. 

"  I'm  going  to  write  '  Yes  !'  In  my 
hands  he  will  be  the  golden  key  to  unlock 
for  me  the  wonders  of  a  world." 

The  door  closed  behind  her  and  Miss 
Darlington  heard  her  singing  carelessly, 
as  she  mounted  the  stairs  to  her  own 
room. 

"Has  the  child  a  heart?"  she  whispered 
to  herself..  "  Mother  used  to  say  she  had 
not,  but  I  fancied  it  was  only  her  light- 
heartedness  that  made  her  seem  so  frivo 
lous  and  flippant;  yet  now ?" 

She  paused  in  her  walk  to  listen.  The 
footsteps  overhead  had  ceased — Dorris 
was  writing  the  fateful  letter. 

Miss  Darlington  shivered,  moving 
closer  to  the  fire  with  an  involuntary 


A  SEARCH  FOR  SENSATIONS.  II 

movement,  while    her   eyes   filled    with 
sudden  tears. 

"  Oh,  Dorris,  Dorris !  I  would  that  you 
were  still  my  baby  sister,  the  golden- 
haired,  innocent  sunbeam  of  my  life!" 
And  outside,  the  March  winds  moaned  as 
if  in  sympathy  with  her  pain. 


12  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 


CHAPTER  II. 


Miss  Darlington  sat  alone  at  the  break 
fast  table.  The  morning  sunlight  streamed 
in  at  the  bay  window,  giving  the  room  a 
cheery  brightness,  and  flooding  with  its 
warmth  a  small  dog  that  lay  curled  upon 
the  window  cushions. 

Miss  Darlington  sipped  her  coffee  and 
nibbled  her  muffin,  while  she  gazed  at  the 
picture  of  content  which  he  presented. 

"  I  wish  I  could  forget  my  troubles  as 
easily  as  Laddie  does,"  she  sighed,  rising 
at  last  and  ringing  the  bell  for  her  maid. 

"  Now,  Miss  Darlington,  shure  an'  ye 
ain't  a  thinkin'  o'  doin  with  that  bit  an' 
sup  till  lunch?"  cried  a  hearty  voice  from 
the  doorway. 

"  Yes,  it's  all  I  could  eat,  Kitty,  but 
you  may  take  up  a  nice  breakfast  to 
Miss  Dorris,  and  tell  her  it's  nearly  ten 
o'clock." 


A  SEARCH  FOR  SENSATIONS.  13 

Kitty's  brow  darkened.  She  had  lived 
with  them  for  many  years  and  considered 
herself  one  of  the  family,  almost. 

"It's  always  Miss  Dorris  an'  niver  your- 
silf  that  gets  the  aisy  things  o'  life  !"  she 
muttered,  but  a  quiet  glance  silenced  her, 
as  she  removed  the  untasted  breakfast. 

"  Kitty's  impertinence  is  getting  very 
troublesome,"  murmured  the  girl,  seating 
herself  beside  the  dog  and  pulling  his 
long  ears.  "  Seems  to  me  everything  gets 
to  be  troublesome,  Laddie." 

Laddie  opened  one  eye,  feebly  wagged 
his  tail,  and,  considering  this  was  all  that 
good  manners  required  by  way  of  reply, 
continued  his  doze. 

Suddenly  Miss  Darlington's  attention 
was  drawn  to  a  carriage,  which  finally 
came  to  a  standstill  before  her  own  house. 
Her  heart  beat  rapidly  as  she  watched 
the  footman  descend  and  open  the  door. 
Yes,  it  was  John  Dryden  !  He  must  have 
received  her  sister's  note  in  the  morning's 
mail,  and  here  he  was,  as  eager  a  lover  as 
if  his  hair  were  not  grey,  nor  crow's  feet 


14  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 

grew  about  his  eyes — and  Dorris  was  still 
in  bed ! 

Running  breathlessly  upstairs,she  burst 
into  her  sister's  room. 

"  Quick,  Dorris,  Mr.  Dryden  has  come 
to  see  you  ;  do  hurry  and  get  up,  child ; 
he  is  waiting!" 

Dorris  was  sitting  up  among  the  pil 
lows,  leisurely  enjoying  her  breakfast. 
"  Let  him  wait,"  she  said,  calmly.  "  It's 
good  for  him  to  begin  in  the  right  way. 
He'll  have  lots  of  waiting  to  do  later  on." 

"  Aren't  you  coming  down  at  all?" 

"  Oh,  yes,"  she  answered,  yawning, 
"  but  there's  no  such  mad  haste.  He  was 
a  goose  to  come  rushing  here  at  this  time 
in  the  morning!" 

Miss  Darlington  turned  to  go  down 
stairs  again,  her  very  back  expressive  of 
such  strong  disapprobation  that  Dorris 
laughed.  "  I'll  trust  him  to  your  tender 
mercies,  my  love!"  she  called  after  the 
retreating  form,  but  her  sister  would  not 
reply. 

Kitty  had  admitted  the  elderly  lover, 


A  SEARCH  FOR  SENSATIONS.  15 

and  Miss  Darlington  found  him  pacing 
up  and  down  the  little  drawing-room. 
He  turned  eagerly  as  she  entered,  but 
the  disappointment  in  his  face  showed 
he  had  expected  to  see  Dorris. 

"  My  sister  will  be  down  soon,"  began 
Miss  Darlington,  rather  stiffly,  and  then, 
as  she  read  the  honest  love  in  the  face 
before  her,  she  held  out  her  hands  with 
simple  earnestness.  "  I  feel  that  you 
have  done  her  a  great  honor  in  asking 
her  to  be  your  wife,  Mr.  Dryden,  but  I 
fear  she  is  too  young  to  know  her  own 
mind.  She  can  not  understand,  as  yet, 
the  real  meaning  of  love.  She  is  only  a 
frivolous  girl.  I  am  so  afraid  she  will  not 
bring  you  the  happiness  you  hope  for!  " 

John  Dryden  pressed  the  hands  he 
held. 

"  Have  no  fear  of  that,"  he  answered 
quickly.  "I  know  she  is  only  a  child,  a 
frivolous  girl,  as  you  put  it,  but  I— er — I 
think  that  is  why  I  am  so  fond  of  her, 
you  know  !" 

Miss  Darlington  looked  at  him  as  he 


l6  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 

stood  before  her.  An  old  man,  tall,  thin, 
with  narrow,  stooped  shoulders,  yet  with 
the  fire  of  youth  in  his  eyes.  Truly,  it 
was  a  picture  to  make  the  gods  laugh,  or 
weep,  to  see  the  dignity  of  age  so  bound 
and  fettered  in  the  flowery  chains  of 
frivolous  Cupid. 

She  motioned  to  a  chair  and  seated 
herself  at  her  work  table.  She  knew 
the  dawdling  ways  of  her  younger  sister, 
and  felt  she  was  in  for  a  prolonged  tete- 
e-tete  with  her  future  brother-in-law. 

It  grew  almost  impossible  to  sustain 
the  conversation,  however,  as  the  slight 
est  sound  drew  her  companion's  atten 
tion  to  the  door,  with  evident  disregard 
of  what  she  was  saying,  and  at  last  they 
heard  light  footsteps  on  the  stairs. 

"  Dorris  is  coming,"  she  said,  rising 
and  holding  out  her  hand  to  him  once 
more,  "but  before  I  go  I  want  to  warn 
you  against  the  step  you  are  taking.  She 
is  a  mere  child,  and  you,  forgive  me,  are 
no  longer  young.  She  does  not  love  you 


A  SEARCH  FOR  SENSATIONS.  17 

as  she  should.  I  doubt  if  she  ever  will. 
Do  you  realize  all  this?" 

The  hand  that  held  hers  trembled,  "  I 
realize  it  all,"  he  murmured.  "  Thank 
you  for  your  honesty.  I  know  you  mean 
to  be  generous,  but — but — I  love  her,  Miss 
Darlington .  I  would  rather  be  miserable 
with  her  than  wretched  'without  her." 

Miss  Darlington  was  silenced.  "  You 
do  love  her,"  she  said  softly. 

"  Heavens  !  what  long  faces !  Are 
you  talking  about  me,  I'd  like  to  know  ?" 
the  gay  young  voice  broke  in  upon  them, 
and  Miss  Darlington  watched  John 
Dryden's  face  as  he  turned  to  greet  her 
sister. 

"  He  is  happy  now,  at  any  rate,"  she 
thought  to  herself,  as  she  left  them  alone 
together. 

An  hour  later,  Dorris  danced  into  the 
sitting-room,  where  she  sat  sewing. 

"Look!  Look!  Look!"  she  cried, 
flashing  an  immense  solitaire  before  the 
other's  eyes.  "  Isn't  that  worth  a  few 
kisses  and  silly  little  speeches?" 


1 8  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 

"  Dorris,  if  you  talk  like  that,  I  shall 
— I  shall  despise  you  !" 

Dorris  laughed.  "You  don't  show 
much  interest  in  my  changed  fortunes, 
my  dear ;  you  haven't  asked  when  the 
great  event  is  to  come  off.  Aren't  you 
at  least  curious?" 

"  Do  you  mean  that  you  have  already 
set  the  time  for  your  marriage?" 

Dorris  nodded. 

"  It's  to  be  in  six  weeks.  I'm  in  a 
hurry  to  come  into  my  kingdom,  you  see, 
and  as  for  John — isn't  it  funny  to  call 
him  'John'? — he  begged  me  to  with  tears 
in  his  eyes,  almost ;  so  I  promised  that  I 
would.  It  really  doesn't  matter,  only 
when  people  take  us  for  father  and  child, 
as  I  suppose  they  will,  sometimes,  it  may 
shock  their  sense  of  filial  respect  to  hear 
me  address  him  as  '  John' !  " 

She  laughed  again  and  kissed  the  jewel 
that  flashed  on  her  hand. 

"  Louise  !"  she  cried,  "  don't  look  so 
sober !  You  shall  have  everything  that 
his  money  will  buy,  and  you  shall  live 


A  SEARCH  FOR  SENSATIONS.  Ip 

with  me  forever  and  ever  in  splendid 
style.  You  were  made  for  velvets  and 
satins  and  rich  things  in  general,  with 
that  regal  air  of  yours,  and  I'll  fix  up  a 
whole  suite  of  rooms  for  your  very  own." 

Miss  Darlington  shook  her  head.  "  I 
couldn't,  Dorris  ;  the  life  you  will  live 
would  stifle  me !" 

Her  sister  caught  her  about  the  waist. 

"Then  you'll  have  to  'stifle,'  Sissy, 
for  it's  settled  that  you  are  to  live  with 
us,  so  there!  I  couldn't  live  without 
you,  don't  you  see?" 


20  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 


CHAPTER  III. 


Kitty's  life  for  the  next  six  weeks  was 
miserable  enough  to  draw  tears  from  the 
sympathetic. 

Breakfasts  went  unappreciated,  lunch 
eons  were  sometimes  completely  ignored, 
— and  dinners  left  untasted  by  her  two 
young  ladies,  who  were  "too  tired  to 
eat." 

Dorris  wanted  a  church  wedding,  but 
the  fact  that  the  ushers  would  have  to  be 
elderly  men,  being  friends  of  the  bride 
groom,  caused  her  to  relinquish  her  plans 
and  content  herself  with  the  quiet  house 
wedding  her  sister  advocated. 

The  wedding  gown  was  to  be  gor 
geous  enough  to  yield  compensation, 
however,  and  John  Dryden's  gift  was  a 
diamond  necklace,  which  outrivalled  her 
wildest  dreams  of  splendor. 


A  SEARCH  FOR  SENSATIONS.  21 

"  You  are  spoiling  her  already,"  Miss 
Darlington  told  him,  but  he  shook  his 
head  and  smiled. 

"  Did  I  ever  tell  you  anything  of  my 
past  life?"  he  asked,  after  a  short  pause, 
and  as  she  answered  in  the  negative,  he 
continued  : 

"  I  was  born  in  poverty.  My  whole 
youth  and  manhood  were  spent  in  hardest 
labor.  I  had  no  time,  no  opportunity,  no 
money,  for  the  joys  and  pleasures  and 
beautiful  things  of  life. 

"  Then  I  began  to  make  my  way  in 
the  world.  I  pressed  on  and  up,  eagerly 
grasping  each  rung  of  the  ladder  which 
carried  me  higher,  supposing  that  when 
I  reached  the  top,  I  should  find  what  my 
soul  had  hungered  for  all  through  life. 

' '  One  day  I  woke  to  realize  that  I 
had  gained  that  summit,  that  I  was  the 
envied  of  men  and  that  I  had  bartered  my 
youth  in  exchange.  Can  you  understand 
how  I  felt  then  ? 

"  That  was  ten  years  ago.  Now  I  feel 
that  I  am  young  again !  Life  is  once 


22  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 

more  mine !  If  I  can  not  win  love,  I  can 
give  it,  and  that  is  the  best  joy,  after  all !" 

He  turned  impulsively  to  his  com 
panion. 

"  It  is  your  sister  that  has  done  this 
for  me.  All  the  beauty,  the  joyousness, 
the  gaiety,  I  missed  in  my  youth,  I  find 
realized  in  her.  I  feel  through  her.  I 
delight  in  her  light-hearted  nonsense.  I 
live  again  in  her  airy,  capricious  willful 
ness.  She  is  the  very  embodiment  of  all 
the  lost  joys  of  my  youth,  and  I  love  her, 
Louise,  I  love  her!" 

He  picked  up  a  dainty  handkerchief 
that  belonged  to  Dorris  and  fingered  it 
lovingly.  "  'There's  no  fool  like  an  old 
fool,'  you  know  !"  he  murmured,  shame 
facedly,  and  Miss  Darlington  turned  away 
her  eyes  as  the  bit  of  lace  was  covertly 
thrust  into  his  pocket. 

So  the  days  wore  away,  each  seem 
ingly  shorter  than  the  last. 

Dorris  went  about  as  if  dancing  on 
air.  "  Everything  is  so  deliciously  new," 
she  would  exclaim,  and  her  sister  found 


A  SEARCH  FOR  SENSATIONS.  23 

her  one  day,  making  up  a  bundle  of  her 
old  gowns.  "  I'm  going  to  give  them  to 
Kitty,"  she  explained.  "  I  want  to  get 
them  out  of  my  sight — I  never  want  to 
see  the  shabby  old  duds  again.  They 
make  me  feel  dreary  just  to  look  at 
them." 

And  so  the  wedding  day  dawned  and 
the  April  sunlight  waked  the  bride  by 
kissing  her  eyes  in  a  warm  caress. 

"Sunshine!"  she  cried,  sitting  up  in 
bed.  "  That  means  good  luck !  Sissy, 
your  doleful  prophecies  are  scattered  to 
the  four  winds.  No  bride  that  the  sun 
shown  on  was  ever  yet  known  to  be 
unhappy  !" 

Miss  Darlington  had  been  up  before 
the  sun,  and  now  came  in  with  a  bunch 
of  bride's  roses  in  her  hands. 

"  John  sends  his  greetings  to  you,"  she 
said,  laying  the  exquisite  flowers  upon 
the  bed. 

"  Goose !"  laughed  the  little  bride,  bury 
ing  her  nose  among  the  creamy  petals. 
"  Do  you  know,  Sissy,  my  only  fear  for 


24  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 

my  future  content  lies  in  the  dread  that 
John  will  bore  me  with  his  dreadful 
devotion.  I  wish  he  would  hate  me,  just 
a  little  ;  'twould  be  a  new  sensation  !" 

"  Perhaps  he  will  some  day.  I  think  / 
should !" 

Dorris  looked  surprised.  "Why?" 
she  asked. 

"  Because  such  love  as  he  gives  you 
deserves  a  better  return  than  you  are 
capable  of  yielding." 

Dorris  yawned  and  pelted  the  sober 
face  opposite  with  roses. 

"You're  a  darling  old  sentimental 
goose!"  she  cried. 

The  day  went  all  too  fast  for  the  many 
things  that  had  to  be  attended  to,  but  at 
last  Dorris  stood  robed  in  her  shimmer 
ing  satin  gown,  while  her  sister  adjusted 
the  veil. 

A  knock  at  the  door  interrupted  her, 
and  the  white-haired  bridegroom  came 
into  the  room. 

His  eyes  were  dark  with  excitement, 
and  as  he  caught  sight  of  the  girl  in  her 


A  SEARCH  FOR  SENSATIONS.  25 

bridal  robes,  his  face  flushed  warmly. 
"Oh,  Dorris,  you  beautiful  child!"  he 
murmured. 

She  nodded  to  him  brightly.  "  Is  it 
time  to  go?"  she  asked. 

"Almost,  but  I — I  wanted  to  bring  you 
this/'  he  stammered,  drawing  forth  a 
jewel  case  as  he  spoke.  "  I  have  always 
heard  that  a  bride  should  wear  a  star 
upon  her  brow.  It's  a  foolish  old  super 
stition  ;  but  you  will  wear  it,  for  my  sake, 
won't  you?" 

He  opened  the  box  and  took  out  a  star 
composed  of  pearls. 

"  John,  you  dear,  please  go  on  indulg 
ing  your  foolish  superstitions  !"  cried  his 
bride,  brushing  his  cheek  with  her  lips. 

"  Louise,  do  fasten  my  veil  with  it; 
isn't  it  a  gem!" 

He  stood  by  as  the  star  was  being 
placed,  and  then,  taking  both  her  hands 
in  his,  he  stooped  and  reverently  kissed 
the  forehead  where  his  gift  shone  forth. 
All  through  the  ceremony  his  eyes  dwelt 
upon  the  face  at  his  side,  and  whatever 


26  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 

Miss  Darlington  may  have  read  in  his 
look,  it  filled  her  with  compassion,  and 
she  vowed  within  herself  that  she  would 
do  all  that  lay  in  her  power  to  make  his 
future  life  as  happy  as  she  could. 


A  SEARCH  FOR  SENSATIONS.  27 


CHAPTER  IV. 


May  was  smiling  upon  the  world,  and 
Kitty  stood  under  the  budding  leaves, 
watching  for  the  postman. 

' '  Shure,  an'  it's  toime  that  pretty  blath 
erskite  sint  anither  letter.  Och  !  the 
ways  o'  the  wourld !  Miss  Louise,  the 
swate  angil,  stayin'  quiet  at  home — an' 
that  pert  sparrow  gettin'  all  the  foine 
things  under  the  skoi !" 

Here  her  soliloquy  was  interrupted  by 
the  appearance  of  the  blue-coated  carrier. 

"  Good  morning,  Mistress  Kitty.  Is 
there  anything  I  can  do  for  you  to-day?" 

"Shure,  yis!  It's  a  letter  from  me 
swateheart  in  the  ould  countree  that  I'm 
a  pinin'  fer !  she  answered,  with  a  pon 
derous  imitation  of  coquetry. 

"  He  has  died,  then — a  little  bird  told 
me  all  about  it,  so  you'd  better  keep  your 


28  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 

bright  eyes  out  for  some  one  nearer 
home." 

Kitty  tossed  her  head  as  she  took  the 
letter  he  handed  her.  "  Shure,  an'  when 
me  bright  eyes  see  what  they  call  a  man, 
Mr.  Postman,  they'll  be  after  keeping  a 
lookout  ferhim!"  With  which  retort 
she  fled  into  the  house,  having  a  truly 
feminine  love  of  the  last  word. 

Miss  Darlington  looked  up  expectantly 
as  Kitty  brought  in  the  letter. 

"An'  is  it  news  from  the  little  spal 
peen  ?"  she  asked. 

"  Yes,  Kitty  ;  she  has  remembered  our 
existence  once  more  ;  she  must  be  coming 
home." 

"  '  You  darling  old  duckie,' "  the  letter 
began;  "  '  I  suppose  it  has  been  awful 
of  me  not  to  write  you  !  Every  morning 
John  has  asked  me  if  I  did  not  intend 
writing  you,  and  I  have  always  answered 
'  yes,'  for  I  have  intended  to,  you  know ! 
But,  heavens !  the  days  have  been  so  full 
of  new  wonders  and  sensations  ! 

"  Fancy  me,  if  you  can,  a  grande  dame, 


A  SEARCH  FOR  SENSATIONS.  29 

with  a  maid  to  wait  on  me  and  nothing 
to  do  but  look  as  pretty  as  I  can,  and 
allow  myself  to  be  petted  and  admired. 
John  is  a  dear !  He  loads  me  with  every 
thing  that  I  happen  to  fancy  for  the  mo 
ment,  until,  alas !  even  the  delights  of 
possession  pall  on  me  a  little.  Isn't  it 
odd  that  the  fact  of  knowing  I  can  have 
everything  I  want  robs  me  of  half  the 
desire?  You  can  study  that  out  with 
your  owl-like  wisdom.  It  gave  me  an 
odd  sensation  at  first,  when  the  men  I  met 
made  love  to  me.  Don't  be  shocked; 
that's  only  fashionable.  I  find  they  all 
do  it  to  the  married  women,  and  it  isn't 
much  fun,  either.  I  always  want  to 
laugh  at  them  ;  they  are  so  silly  !  Once  I 
did.  I  was  in  a  gondola  with  Tom  Ben- 
ton,  and  he  was  so  idiotically  sentimental 
that  I  giggled  right  out !  He  was  furious 
and  so  sulky  he  wouldn't  talk,  so  I  fell 
asleep  and  never  woke  up  till  we  were 
moored  at  the  hotel  steps.  I  told  John, 
but  he  didn't  laugh  as  much  as  I  expected 
him  to. 


30  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 

"Well,  Italy  is  beautiful,  I  suppose, 
but  I'm  tired  of  it  now ;  besides,  I'm 
crazy  to  return  to  my  new  grandeur,  so 
we  are  coming  back  home ;  perhaps  we 
will  sail  by  the  next  steamer. 

"  John  says  you  must  be  there  in  the 
town  house  to  meet  us,  so  you  had  better 
rent  the  old  home  to  those  people  you 
wrote  me  of,  for  we  want  to  find  you 
quite  settled  in  the  big  house  when  we 
come  back. 

"Good-bye,  you  darling  old  Sissy.  I 
blow  you  a  kiss  across  the  water. 

"  DORR  is  DRYDEN." 

Miss  Darlington  laid  down  the  letter. 
Perhaps,  for  John's  sake,  she  ought  to 
move  into  the  "big  house  ;"  but  it  would 
be  very  hard  to  give  up  the  little  shabby, 
old  house  that  had  been  "home"  to  her 
as  long  as  she  could  remember. 

She  looked  about  the  room.  There  was 
the  cosy  old  sofa,  where  she  used  to  curl 
up  on  rainy  days  to  read  impossible  fairy 
tales,  and  many  a  childish  trouble  had 
been  wept  away  within  its  wide-spread- 


A  SEARCH  FOR  SENSATIONS.  3! 

ing  arms.  Such  a  comfortable  old  sofa, 
faded  and  worn,  like  the  face  of  some 
dear  old  friend.  Would  there  be  any 
thing  to  take  its  place  in  the  "big 
house?"  Her  eyes  wandered  to  their 
mother's  writing  desk,  old-fashioned  and 
battered,  with  notches  cut  in  the  legs, 
where  Dorris  had  played  at  being  a 
"wood-cutter"  one  winter's  afternoon, 
long  ago.  The  mischievous  little  fingers 
had  been  sharply  rapped,  and  Miss  Dar 
lington  remembered  how  she  had  con 
soled  her  by  rolling  her  in  the  fur  rug, 
and  playing  bear. 

Laddie  was  lying  on  the  rug  now,  and 
Miss  Darlington  dropped  down  beside 
him,  burying  her  face  in  his  neck. 

"  We  all  belong  together,  Laddie— the 
old  sofa  and  you  and  I  and  the  rest  of  it, 
and  we  won't  show  off  well  in  the  fine, 
new  house ;  but  I'm  afraid  we'll  have  to 
go,  Laddie,  I'm  afraid  we'll  have  to  go  !" 
And  Laddie  rubbed  his  nose  against  her 
cheek  in  dumb  sympathy,  wondering 
foolishly  what  made  it  feel  so  wet ! 


32  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 


CHAPTER   V. 


Three  busy  weeks  had  flown  by.  Miss 
Darlington  and  her  few  personal  belong 
ings  were  installed  in  their  new  home, 
while  Kitty  ruled  as  head  cook  in  the 
kitchen. 

The  little  old  house  had  been  rented 
with  all  its  shabby  furniture  and  every 
thing  in  the  big  house  put  in  order  for 
the  arrival  of  its  master  and  mistress. 

Louise  sat  in  the  large  drawing-room, 
trying  to  interest  herself  in  a  book, 
though  her  ears  were  listening  for  the 
sound  of  carriage  wheels,  and  at  last  she 
heard  them  stop  before  the  door. 

A  slim  figure  ran  lightly  up  the  steps 
into  the  out-stretched  arms.  "O,  Sissy! 
It's  so  good  to  have  you  here.  I  was  so 
afraid  you  wouldn't  be  on  hand  to  wel 
come  us,  and  oh  !  I'm  so  tired  and  warm  ! 


A  SEARCH  FOR  SENSATIONS.  33 

Send  my  maid  right  up  to  my  room  ;  I 
must  have  a  tubbing  before  I  eat.  John  ? 
He's  coming,  but  he  has  been  ill,  so 
Ritchie  has  to  handle  him  with  care." 

Miss  Darlington  turned  to  find  John 
Dryden  painfully  climbing  the  steps  with 
the  help  of  his  valet.  He  looked  old  and 
tired,  and  her  heart  went  out  to  him. 

"Lean  on  me,"  she  said,  going  to  his 
side.  "  I  am  so  sorry  you  have  been  ill, 
but  we  will  soon  have  you  well  again, 
now  you  are  at  home.  I'm  a  famous 
nurse,  you  know." 

"Yes,"  he  murmured, his  glance  search 
ing  the  hall.  "  Where  did  she  go?" 

"  Dorris  ?"  She  went  to  her  room  to 
prepare  for  dinner.  Will  you  rest  here, 
or  have  something  served  to  you  in  your 
own  apartments  ?" 

He  sighed.  "  I'll  wait  down  here.  It 
might  sadden  her  home-coming  if  I  were 
sick  upstairs." 

Miss  Darlington  bit  her  lip.  "  But  you 
really  are  not  equal  to  it,"  she  remon 
strated. 


34  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 

"Yes,  I  am,"  he  insisted,  with  slight 
irritation,  adding  eagerly,  "  Did  you  see 
her?  Did  you  notice  how  beautiful  she 
has  grown  ?" 

"  She  was  looking  very  well  and  ex 
tremely  gay,"  answered  Miss  Darlington, 
rather  coldly. 

"That's  it,  'extremely  gay  ;'  she  laughs 
and  sings  and  dances  all  day,  and  a  good 
part  of  every  night.  They  all  admire  her 
so  much  ;  but  she  is  mine,  Louise,  my 
wife — all  mine,  you  know  !" 

"  Of  course,  she  is  yours;  your  own 
happy  little  bride,"  she  said,  soothingly, 
and  he  brightened  at  her  words. 

He  scarcely  touched  a  morsel  of  food  at 
dinner,  sitting  with  his  eyes  fastened 
upon  Dorris,  at  the  other  end  of  the  table. 
Once,  as  she  glanced  brightly  across  at 
him,  he  smiled  and  raised  his  wine  glass 
to  his  lips.  "  To  your  home-coming,  Mrs. 
John  Dryden,"  he  said. 

She  nodded  :  "  It's  nice  to  be  at  home 
at  last,  isn't  it,  John?"  and  the  few  care 
less  words  brought  a  flush  to  his  cheek, 


A  SEARCH  FOR  SENSATIONS.  35 

which  lingered  long  after  she  had  for 
gotten  the  remark. 

Later  on,  she  sat  on  a  low  stool  at  his 
feet,  allowing  him  to  play  with  her  hair 
as  it  rested  against  his  knee,  while  her 
tongue  ran  on  about  all  that  she  had  seen 
and  heard  since  she  had  been  away. 

"I  liked  Paris  best  of  all,"  she  de 
clared.  '  'There  were  a  lot  of  artists  there  ; 
funny  people  who  lived  in  scrubby  rooms. 
John  ran  across  the  son  of  one  of  his  old 
friends,  who  was  one  of  these  amusing 
creatures,  so  he  took  us  right  into  the 
midst  of  their  queer  life.  It  was  perfect 
Bohemia,  and  I  used  to  enjoy  going  to  his 
studio.  He  painted  my  picture,  too— 
don't  twitch  my  hair  so,  John  !" 

Louise  glanced  at  his  face  and  was 
struck  at  the  change  she  saw  in  it.  Dor- 
ris  moved  her  head  from  beneath  his 
touch  and  continued  her  chatter. 

"  He  did  it  superbly !  I  sat  to  him  in 
my  wedding  gown,  you  know,  and  John 
wanted  to  buy  the  picture  from  him,  but 
he  would  not  sell  it.  He  called  it  his 


36  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 

'inspiration.'  Odd  that  he  wouldn't  sell 
it,  I  think,  for  he  appears  to  be  awfully 
poor." 

"John  is  ill!"  suddenly  exclaimed 
Louise,  springing  towards  him. 

He  shook  his  head.  "  Only  tired,"  he 
murmured.  "If  you'll  ring  for  Ritchie, 
I'll  go  to  my  room." 

His  face  looked  white  and  drawn,  but 
Dorris  called  forth  a  shadowy  smile  by 
drawing  his  head  against  her  breast  and 
lightly  touching  her  lips  to  his  brow. 

"  Too  bad  !"  she  said.  "You're  all  tired 
out.  You  ought  to  have  gone  straight  to 
bed  as  soon  as  you  got  here." 

He  did  not  reply,  save  by  the  look  of 
devotion  that  lay  in  his  eyes  as  they 
rested  upon  her  face,  and  she  stood  at 
his  side,  running  her  fingers  through  his 
whitened  hair,  until  the  valet  appeared 
to  take  him  to  his  room. 

"  Why  didn't  you  go  with  him  ?"  asked 
Miss  Darlington,  as  the  door  closed. 

"Go  with  him?  Why  on  earth  should  I? 


A  SEARCH  FOR  SENSATIONS.  37 

Ritchie  is  paid  to  take  care  of  him,  and 
he  does  it  all  right." 

Dorris  lounged  over  to  the  window. 
"It's  a  heavenly  night,"  shewenton.  "I 
wish  something  nice  would  happen, 
somebody  awfully  interesting  come,  or 
an  exciting  bit  of  news  blow  in  to  us." 

"  Still  longing  for  sensations  ?  I  should 
think  even  you  would  be  satisfied  with 
the  new  experiences  of  the  last  few 
months." 

Dorris  shook  her  head,  yawning. 
"Everything  gets  to  be  a  bore  if  you 
have  all  you  want  of  it.  Not  that  I 
would  go  back  to  the  old  days  in  that 
shabby  little  house  of  ours — ugh !  it 
makes  me  ill  just  to  think  of  those  days. 
I  don't  see  how  I  existed  then.  Imagine 
me,  now,  wearing  a  gown  that  I  had 
'  made  over'  myself  on  that  rheumatic 
old  machine — stitch,  stitch,  stitch,  clack, 
clack,  clack — horrors !  It's  much  pleas- 
anter  to  be  bored  as  I  am  !" 

Miss  Darlington  laughed.  "  You  are 
nothing  but  a  child,"  she  said  ;  "  always 


I 


38  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 

in  search  of  new  toys.  What  will  it  be 
next?" 

"The  seaside!  I'm  going  there  in  a 
few  days." 

"  I  don't  think  John  is  strong  enough," 
objected  her  sister. 

"Well,  we  can  leave  him  here,  then." 

"What!  desert  that  poor  old  man, 
whose  very  sun  sets  when  you  are  away 
from  him?" 

"  O,  don't  be  a  prig,  Louise  !  I  shan't 
'  desert'  him,  but  I  can't  be  tied  to  him 
all  summer  long." 

"  If  you  go,  you'll  go  alone.  I  shall 
stay  with  John  !" 

Dorris  lost  her  temper.  "  You  act  as  if 
he  were  your  husband  !"  she  cried. 

"  If  he  were,  I  should  do  my  duty 
towards  him!"  was  the  quick  reply. 

"Duty!  duty!  duty!  What  a  bug 
bear  you  make  of  that  word  !  I  do  do  my 
'  duty  '  when  I  am  pleasant  and  agreeable 
to  him.  Didn't  you  see  how  I  rubbed 
his  head  and  kissed  him  to-night?" 

Miss  Darlington  looked  at  her  sister  as 


A  SEARCH  FOR  SENSATIONS.  39 

she  lay  stretched  full  length  among  the 
cushions  of  the  couch. 

"You  are  incorrigible!"    she  sighed. 

"Don't  preach,  Sissy  ;  it  does  bore  me 
so.  I  endured  it  as  Dorris  Darlington, 
but  as  Mrs.  John  Dryden — I  won't!" 

A  pause  followed  her  words.  "  You 
won't  go  to  the  shore  with  me,  then?" 
she  asked,  at  last. 

"No!" 

"  Then  don't.  Mrs.  Nettleton  will  be 
glad  to  have  me  at  her  cottage." 

No  answer  was  made  to  this  announce 
ment,  but  Miss  Darlington  rose  and 
folded  her  embroidery. 

Dorris  watched  her  until  she  had 
reached  the  door,  then  she  sprang  up 
and  ran  after  her. 

"O,  you  dear,  sanctimonious  old  Sissy," 
she  cried,  squeezing  her.  "  Kiss  me  good 
night,  quick,  or  I'll  cry.  You  mustn't 
scold  me;  it  doesn't  agree  with  me!" 

Her  sister  melted — she  always  did 
when  those  clinging  arms  were  about  her 


40  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 

neck,  and  she  gave  the  kiss  as  they  went 
up-stairs  together. 

"I  don't  approve  of  you,  though, 
Dorris,"  she  said,  but  young  Mrs.  John 
ran  away  laughing,  with  her  hands  held 
over  her  ears. 


A  SEARCH  FOR  SENSATIONS.  4! 


CHAPTER  VI. 


As  Miss  Darlington  had  expected, 
John  Dryden  made  an  attempt  to  accom 
pany  his  wife  to  the  seaside  ;  but  after 
spending  two  days  there,  he  was  fo.rced 
to  return  to  the  quiet  of  his  own  home, 
leaving  young  Mrs.  Dryden  at  her  friend's 
cottage. 

The  parting  was  hard  for  him,  and 
Miss  Darlington's  heart  ached  sympa 
thetically  as  she  watched  the  sadness 
grow  in  his  face,  as  every  mile  bore  him 
further  and  further  from  the  sunshine  of 
his  life. 

She  redoubled  her  attentions,  and  felt 
rewarded  when,  after  reaching  home,  he 
looked  up  at  her  and  told  her  it  was  good 
to  have  her  with  him. 

"Why  did  you  come  back  with  the  old 
man,  instead  of  staying  on  there  to  enjoy 
yourself?" 


42  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 

"I  wanted  to  come,"  she  assured  him. 
"It  is  much  nicer  here  than  at  that 
crowded  hotel,  and  we  will  have  a  cosy 
time  of  it,  all  by  ourselves." 

She  read  to  him  until  he  fell  asleep 
from  utter  weariness,  then  leaning  back 
in  her  chair  she  gave  herself  up  to  dreams. 

How  strange  this  new  life  was  ;  this 
new  world  of  ease  and  luxury,  which 
seemed  so  oddly  unreal  after  the  years  she 
had  spent  in  fighting  with  stern  realities. 
Would  she  ever  feel  at  home  amid  all 
this  stifling  grandeur?  Her  thoughts 
went  back  to  the  dear  familiarity  of  the 
old  house.  It  may  have  been  shabby, 
but  it  was  hers !  It  had  grown  to  be 
part  of  her,  and  home  is  where  the  heart 
is,  surely. 

"  Nothing  is  worth  anything  without 
love!" 

The  sound  of  her  own  voice  startled 
her,  or  was  it  the  step  behind  which  she 
had  not  heard  before  ? 

Turning  quickly,  she  came  face  to  face 
with  a  young  man,  in  whose  eyes  she 


A  SEARCH  FOR  SENSATIONS.  43 

read  an  open  amusement,  which  showed 
he  had  overheard  her  soliloquy.  Her 
color  rose. 

"  I  am  Mr.  Dryden's  secretary,"  he 
explained,  coining  to  her  relief.  "He 
sent  for  me,  but  I  see  he  is  now  otherwise 
engaged."  * 

They  both  smiled,  as  a  slight  snore  tes 
tified  to  the  soundness  of  the  sleep  en 
joyed  by  the  old  man. 

"He  was  very  tired;  would  you  mind 
waiting?  I  can't  bear  to  disturb  him," 
she  pleaded. 

The  young  man  seated  himself.  "Mr. 
Dryden  is  not  very  strong ;  he  has  been 
such  a  hard  worker  all  his  life,"  he  said. 

"Yes,"  she  answered.  "He  has  spent 
his  life  in  accumulating  wealth,  and  now 
he  finds  he  can't  eat  it,  nor  warm  his 
heart  with  it,  nor  buy  love  with  it!" 

Her  companion  looked  at  her  in  sudden 
surprise. 

"I  beg  pardon,  but — er — aren't  you 
Mrs.  John  Dryden?" 


44  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 

"  Good  heavens,  no!"  she  cried.  "How 
could  you  suppose  such  a  thing?" 

Her  indignation  brought  a  flush  to  his 
face. 

"  I  have  never  seen  his  wife,"  he  mur 
mured  apologetically. 

She  flushed  in  her  turn. 

"  Of  course  not.  I  forgot  that.  Please 
pardon  my  annoyance  at  the  mistake, 
but  it  gave  me  a  sort  of  shock  to  think 
anyone  could  fancy  /would  marry  him, 
you  know." 

He  read  more  than  she  intended  in  her 
words. 

"  I  understand,"  he  said  simply,  while 
she  went  on  to  explain  her  sister's  absence 
as  best  she  might. 

The  clock  ticked  away  the  moments 
while  they  talked,  and  still  John  Dryden 
slept. 

Miss  Darlington  learned  that  her  new 
friend's  name  was  Leigh  Kurt  and  that 
he  had  been  Mr.  Dryden's  secretary  for 
several  years  He  told  her  a  great  deal 
about  the  old  man's  character  that 


A  SEARCH  FOR  SENSATIONS.  45 

warmed  her  heart  and  she  found  that  his 
hard-earned  money  was  not  spent  sel 
fishly,  but  that  his  charities  were  broad 
and  far-reaching. 

"He  deserves  to  be  happy  in  his  old  age. 
I  was  glad  when  he  told  me  of  his  mar 
riage  to  your  sister ;  it  seemed  to  make 
him  young  again." 

As  if  the  mention  of  her  name  brought 
the  dreamer  back  to  earth,  he  opened  his 
eyes  and  looked  about  with  the  dazed 
expression  of  one  newly  awakened. 

"  Asleep,  eh?  and  you  let  me  snooze 
while  you  two  sat  and  laughed  at  my 
snoring,  I  suppose!" 

He  put  out  his  hand  to  Kurt.  "  Well, 
I  don't  begrudge  you  the  laugh,  for  I 
have  had  the  best  nap  I  can  remember 
for  weeks.  Now  we  will  begin  on  the 
work,  Leigh,  my  boy." 

For  two  hours  he  kept  his  secretary 
busy,  and  then,  tired  out,  he  was  carried 
away  by  the  faithful  Ritchie,  leaving  in 
structions  for  Kurt  to  stay  to  dinner  and 
keep  Miss  Darlington  from  being  lonely. 


46  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 

And  so  they  talked.  It  seemed  as  though 
they  had  been  treasuring  thoughts  all 
their  lives  before,  just  for  this  wonderful 
meeting,  and  when  eleven  o'clock  chimed 
from  the  big  hall  clock,  they  parted  with 
the  feeling  that  they  had  known  each 
other  not  moments,  nor  hours,  but  from 
the  earliest  birth  of  their  souls. 

Who  can  tell  what  it  is  that  draws  two 
spirits  into  this  close  communion,  leaving 
an  impress  which  a  lifetime  cannot 
efface  ? 

Only  eternity  can  answer ! 


A  SEARCH  FOR  SENSATIONS.  47 


CHAPTER  VII. 


Dorris  sat  writing  her  first  letter  to 
her  husband.  Louise  had  sent  another 
long,  tiresome  epistle  to  her,  filled  with 
quotations  from  the  Bible  about  the  duty 
of  wives  to  their  husbands,  and  so,  chiefly 
to  prevent  a  repetition  of  the  lecture,  she 
had  left  the  gay  group  of  loungers  below 
and  ascended  to  her  room  to  accomplish 
the  task  demanded  of  her. 

The  soft  sea  breezes  fanned  her  cheek, 
lifting  the  hair  from  her  forehead  and 
lulling  her  into  a  state  of  idle  content. 

For  a  long  time  she  sat  nibbling  her 
pen  and  gazing  out  upon  the  sparkling 
water,  watching  the  white  sea  gulls 
skim  over  its  placid  depths,  like  pure 
thoughts  hovering  over  a  calmly  peaceful 
heart.  Then  she  was  seized  with  an 
inspiration  and  began  to  write  rapidly. 


48  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 

"'Dearest  of  dear  Husbands,'"  she 
commenced.  She  knew  it  would  please 
him  to  have  her  address  him  so. 

"  'I  have  been  thinking  of  you  so 
much  that  I  could  not  put  off  writing 
you  a  day  longer.  You  see,  I  am  kept  so 
very  busy  that  it  is  almost  impossible  to 
find  time  for  anything,  but  this  morning 
I  have  run  away  from  everyone  just  to 
write  you  a  letter.  Louise  tells  me  you 
are  feeling  better,  and  you  know  how 
happy  that  makes  your  wife  feel,  don't 
you  ?"  She  smiled  as  she  wrote  the  word 
"  wife,"  underscoring  it  twice. 

"  '  I  am  having  a  very  jolly  time  of  it, 
down  here.  Mrs.  Nettleton  wants  to 
take  me  into  the  mountains  for  a  little 
run,  and  I  think  I  will  go  with  her,  unless 
you  write  me  not  to  do  so ;  but  I  know 
you  don't  need  me  when  you  have  good 
old  Sissy  to  take  care  of  you.  She  is 
just  the  most  comforting  thing  in  all  the 
world,  you  know! 

"  By  the  way,  she  forwarded  me  a 
letter  from  Allan.  He  writes  he  is  com- 


A  SEARCH  FOR  SENSATIONS.  49 

ing  over  soon,  and  says  he  exhibited  my 
picture  and  it  has  brought  him  fame. 
I'm  hugely  flattered.  It's  a  new  sensa 
tion  to  feel  all  Paris  is  raving  over  me — 
or  is  it  my  gown?  Anyway,  you  are 
awfully  proud  of  me.  Aren't  you? 

"  Tell  Louise  she  musn't  cut  me  out 
too  completely.  I'm  half  inclined  to  be 
jealous  of  your  devotion  to  her,  you 
know. 

"And  now,  au  revoir,  my  dearest 
husband,  with  the  devoted  love  of  your 
'  wee  wifie,'  DORRIS  DRYDEN." 

She  stamped  and  addressed  this  epistle 
with  a  pleased  smile.  "  It  is  rather  pleas 
ant  to  do  one's  duty;  Sissy  is  right," 
she  thought,  running  down  stairs,  "  only 
I  don't  think  I  could  stand  very  much 
of  it!" 

"  Where  art  thou  going,  my  pretty 
maid?" 

"  Oh  !  Mr.  Preston  !  You  startled  me 
awfully !  I  wish  you  would  stop  pounc 
ing  upon  me  like  that !  It  bores  me  !  I 
feel  as  if  I  were  haunted  !" 


50  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 

"You  liked  to  be  'bored,'  at  first!" 
he  said,  reproachfully. 

"Perhaps!  It  was  a  new  sensation, 
then." 

"  You  don't  seem  to  care  for  anything 
but  experiencing  '  new  sensations,'  "  he 
replied,  sulkily.  "Some  day  there  is 
bound  to  be  an  end.  There  is  nothing 
really  'new'  under  the  sun.  Then  what 
will  you  do?" 

"  I'll  wait  till  that  time  comes.  It 
seems  pretty  far  off  at  present." 

"It  will  come,  though,"  he  persisted, 
"  and  then  you  will  probably  be  a  blase 
old  woman,  with  no  one  to  fetch  and 
carry  for  you  as  I  do !" 

She  raised  her  eyes  to  his  in  a  swift 
glance.  "  Where  will  you  be  then?" 
she  murmured  softly. 

He  groaned,  "At  your  feet  still,  I  sup 
pose.  I  am,  as  you  say,  a  fool!" 

She  nodded. 

' '  Exactly.  Now  run  and  post  this  letter 
for  me,  please." 


A  SEARCH  FOR  SENSATIONS.  51 

He  took  it  from  her  hand,  reading  the 
address  with  cynically  raised  eyebrows. 

She  answered  his  glance  with  a  laugh. 
"Go!"  she  cried.  "It  is  a  love  letter 
and  must  catch  the  early  mail." 

"  Will  you  wait  here  till  I  come  back  ?" 
he  asked. 

She  nodded. 

"Promise!"    he  insisted. 

"  I  promise.     Hurry  !" 

He  turned  and  walked  rapidly  away, 
but  when  the  trees  hid  him  from  sight, 
she  caught  up  her  skirts  and  ran  in  the 
opposite  direction  as  fast  as  her  feet 
would  carry  her. 


SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 


A  week  later,  Dorris  found  herself  in 
danger  of  becoming  bored. 

The  weather  was  too  warm  for  exer 
tion,  and  the  days  seemed  endlessly  long 
and  dull. 

"I  never  thought  it  could  be  so  stifling," 
she  exclaimed. 

Someone  yawned  audibly,  but  no 
other  response  greeted  her  remark. 

"  I  never  knew  that  people  could  be 
so  stupid ;  it  makes  me  sleepy  just  to 
look  at  you  all." 

"It's  too  beastly  hot  for  anything  but 
the  necessary  breathing  we  are  obliged 
to  do,"  spoke  up  a  voice  at  her  side. 

"The  evenings  are  cool  enough.  Why 
not  go  on  an  all-night  picnic?"  Dorris 
suggested. 

"  It  wouldn't  be  proper,"  put  in  her 
friend  arid  hostess. 


A  SEARCH  FOR  SENSATIONS.  53 

"  But  it  would  be  perfectly  lovely ! 
We'll  go  on  Mr.  Preston's  yacht,  and 
sail  and  sail,  sail  and  sail,  till  the  moon 
goes  down.  'Twill  be  deliciously  cool. 
I'm  going.  Who'll  go  with  me?" 

No  one  promised  ;  but  when  the  moon 
rose  that  night  it  blushed  to  see  that  a 
party  of  rash  young  people  had  started 
out  alone  under  its  luring  rays. 

Over  the  silvered,  rippling  waters  the 
little  yacht  skimmed,  bearing  them  far 
away  from  all  conventional  restrictions, 
and  filling  them  with  reckless  delight.  It 
seemed  almost  as  much  fun  as  if  they 
were  running  away  from  school. 

Gradually  the  laughter  subsided,  and  a 
dreamy  quiet  fell  upon  them  all.  On  and 
on  they  sailed,  following  the  moonbeams' 
glittering  pathway,  lulled  by  the  gentle 
cradling  of  the  waves.  Dorris  grew 
sleepy. 

"Do  talk,"  she  exclaimed,  turning  to 
Preston.  "  What  have  you  been  thinking 
about  for  the  last  half  hour?" 


54  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 

"  Of  a  little  poem  I  ran  across  the  other 
day,"  he  answered,  softly. 

"  What  was  it?" 

"  Shall  I  repeat  it?" 

"  If  you  choose." 

He  let  his  eyes  rest  upon  her  face  as 
he  repeated  the  lines  : 

"  'Tother  day,  as  I  was  twining 
Roses  for  her  crown  to  dine  in, 
What,  of  all  things,  midst  the  heap, 
Should  I  light  on,  fast  asleep, 
But  the  little  desperate  elf — 
That  tiny  traitor — I/ove,  himself  ! 
By  the  wings  I  pinched  him  up 
Like  a  bee,  and  in  a  cup 
Of  wine  I  plunged  and  sank  him. 
And  what  d'you  think  I  did  ?    I  drank  him  ! 
Faith !     I  thought  him  dead — not  he  ! 
For  there  he  lives  in  ten-fold  glee, 
And  now,  this  moment,  with  his  wings 
I  feel  him  tickling  my  heart  strings  !'  " 

She  laughed.  ' '  Don't  you  think  it  is  a 
mosquito  you  feel  '  tickling  '  ?  I  saw  a 
big  one  vanish  into  your  mouth  just  a 
moment  ago!" 

He  turned  away  from  her.     "  I  might 


A  SEARCH   FOR  SENSATIONS.  55 

have  expected  a  laugh  from  you — you 
jeer  at  everything !" 

Some  one  called  across  the  boat :  "  I 
say,  Preston,  the  wind  is  dropping  off 
considerably ;  think  there  is  danger  of  a 
calm?" 

Long  streaks  of  grey  could  be  seen, 
faintly  heralding  the  dawn.  The  moon 
had  warned  them  of  the  flight  of  time  by 
dropping  into  the  edge  of  the  sea,  and 
now  the  breezes  seemed  to  be  fainting  at 
the  approach  of  day. 

"  We  are  making  the  best  time  we 
can,"  Preston  replied,  rising  to  scan  the 
horizon  ;  but  the  land  seemed  to  recede 
as  the  darkness  faded  into  the  rosy-tinted 
light. 

They  sat  huddled  together  in  the  chilly 
air — a  cheerless,  bedraggled-looking  set 
of  people. 

Dorris  began  to  laugh.  "  We  will  get 
in  just  in  time  to  meet  everyone,"  she 
cried. 

"It's  all  your   fault!     You    made   us 


56  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 

come."  declared  a  tearful  voice;  and,  for 
once,  young  Mrs.  Dryden  made  no  reply. 

The  yacht  could  be  plainly  seen  from 
the  shore,  rocking  helplessly  upon  the 
tide. 

Signs  of  life  began  to  show  and  knots 
of  people  gathered  to  gaze  at  them 
through  field-glasses.  At  last  a  launch 
was  sent  out  to  tow  them  in,  and  the  cul 
prits  were  forced  to  run  the  gauntlet  of 
the  curious  and  the  shocked. 

Dorris  received  a  new  sensation  as  she 
passed  the  different  groups  of  acquaint 
ances,  who  stared  at  her  in  haughty  dis 
approval  ;  but  she  held  her  head  so  high 
that  censure  fell  upon  her  more  heavily 
than  it  otherwise  might  have  done,  and 
when  she  reached  her  friend's  cottage, 
that  lady  gave  her  such  a  generous  piece 
of  her  mind,  that  the  afternoon  found 
young  Mrs.  John  Dryden  steaming  back 
to  the  city. 


A  SEARCH  FOR  SENSATIONS.  57 


CHAPTER  IX. 

It  was  dusk  when  the  cab  drew  up 
before  her  own  door  and  she  ran  eagerly 
up  the  steps  and  into  the  drawing-room. 

A  picture  of  home  greeted  her  eyes. 
John  Dryden  leaned  back  in  a  large  easy 
chair,  listening  to  the  young  man  who 
was  reading  aloud,  while  Miss  Darlington 
sat  under  the  yellow  lamp  rays,  embroid 
ering  some  dainty  article. 

"  I've  come  home  !"  she  cried. 

They  all  sprang  to  their  feet  in  amaze 
ment. 

"  Dorris !  what  has  brought  you  back 
so  unexpectedly?"  exclaimed  her  sister, 
while  John  Dryden  drew  her  to  him  in 
joy  too  deep  for  words. 

"  O,  I  got  tired  of  them  all  down  there, 
so  I  came  home.  Aren't  you  all  awfully 
glad  to  see  me  ?" 


58  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 

It  was  unnecessary  to  ask  that  of  the 
gray-haired  man,  whose  eager  eyes  de 
voured  her  face,  and,  as  she  slipped  into 
her  old  seat  at  his  feet,  he  laid  his  hand 
upon  her  head  with  the  tenderness  a 
mother  might  show  for  a  wayward  child. 

Leigh  Kurt  was  introduced  after  the 
surprise  of  her  arrival  had  subsided,  and 
she  was  not  long  in  discovering  some 
subtle  change  in  her  sister,  which  puzzled 
her  at  first.  But  her  quick  eyes  saw 
many  things,  as  she  sat,  chattering,  in 
their  midst,  and,  that  night,  after  every 
one  had  gone  to  their  rooms,  Miss  Dar 
lington  was  surprised  by  receiving  a  visit 
from  her  sister. 

"  Don't  disturb  yourself,"  she  said, 
slipping  into  a  low  seat.  "  I  have  tucked 
John  into  bed,  and  now  I  have  come 
here  to  perform  another  duty." 

"You  are  developinga  marvelous  apti 
tude  for  duty!"  laughed  the  other. 

Dorris  nodded.  "  I  am  alarmed  at 
what  I  saw  to-night,  you  see,  and  I  have 


A  SEARCH  FOR  SENSATIONS.  59 

come  to  point  out  to  you  the  error  of 
your  ways." 

Miss  Darlington  turned  from  the  dress 
ing  table,  letting  her  heavy  hair  fall  from 
her  hands. 

"  Dorris,  what  are  you  talking  about?" 

"Don't  look  so  innocent,  my  love; 
you're  a  great  fraud.  Here  you  have 
lectured  me  all  my  life,  but  I  never  did 
anything  so  reprehensible  as  to  flirt  with 
a  young  and  unsuspecting  youth,  who" — 

"Hush!"  cried  Miss  Darlington,  her 
face  hot  with  blushes.  "You  don't  know 
what  you  are  talking  about,  child!" 

Dorris  read  the  face  before  her  in  sud 
den  consternation.  "  You  don't  mean  to 
say  you  are  in  earnest?  Oh,  Sissy,  Sissy !" 

"Why  shouldn't  I  be?"  asked  her  sis 
ter,  trying  to  hide  her  flushed  face  behind 
her  unbound  hair. 

"  Why?  Why,  because  you  have  only 
known  him  a  few  weeks,  and  oh,  Sissy, 
he  is  POOR  !  " 

Louise  Darlington  looked  down  at  the 
little  figure  crouching  upon  the  low  seat. 


60  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 

"Dorris,"  she  said,  and  Dorris  thrilled 
strangely  at  the  sweet  note  in  her  voice, 
"I  loved  him  the  first  time  we  met.  I 
believe  I  shall  love  him  through  life  and 
the  mysteries  that  come  after  life.  I 
think  I  must  have  loved  him  in  some 
previous  existence  which  only  our  two 
souls  shared.  As  for  his  poverty — ah, 
child !  you  can't  understand  me  when  I 
say  that  it  adds  a  joy  to  my  love  to  know 
that  I  shall  serve  him — that  I  shall  help 
to  bear  the  burdens  that  are  his!" 

Silence  fell  between  them  as  Miss  Dar 
lington  ceased  speaking. 

Dorris  gazed  at  her  in  awed  wonder. 

"Don't  look  at  me  like  that,  dear; 
can't  you  tell  me  you  are  glad  because  of 
my — my  happiness?" 

Dorris  rose  slowly,  putting  her  arms 
about  her  sister  :  "I'm  glad — you  are  so 
glad!"  she  began,  lamely,  and  then, 
with  a  burst  of  unexpected  feeling,  she 
cried  :  "  But  oh,  Sissy,  you  will  have  to 
go  away  from  me,  and  what  shall  I  do 
without  you  ?  What  can  I  do  with  John  ?" 


A  SEARCH  FOR  SENSATIONS.  6l 

Miss  Darlington  gathered  the  small 
form  closer  to  her,  kissing  the  bowed 
head. 

"  I  couldn't  live  here  forever,  sweet 
heart,"  she  whispered.  "You  will  have 
to  bear  the  responsibility  of  your  mar 
riage  some  day,  so  I  promised  Leigh  I 
would  be  his  wife  early  in  October." 

Dorris  sobbed:  "Oh,  dear,  what  shall 
I  do?" 

"You  will  be  a  woman,  Dorris,  and 
do  your  duty  as  a  wife,"  answered  her 
sister,  firmly.  "You  married  John  with 
open  eyes,  and  you  must  abide  by  the 
consequences." 

The  slight  form  wriggled  in  the  other's 
arms.  "Don't  preach,"  she  mumbled, 
through  her  tears. 

An  irrepressible  smile  flitted  over  Miss 
Darlington's  face. 

"  Aren't  you  ever  going  to  grow  up?" 
she  asked. 

Dorris  withdrew  herself  and  dried  her 
eyes.  "I  suppose  I'll  have  to  if  I've  got 
to  be  John's  wife  all  alone  !"  she  sighed. 


62  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 

"I  always  thought  you  would  stay  with 
me  forever,  and  you  always  see  that 
everything  goes  right." 

Miss  Darlington  laughed  in  what 
seemed  to  be  a  most  heartless  manner. 

"You've  deserted  me  utterly!''  cried 
her  sister,  "and  I  really  believe  you  think 
it  is  John  who  has  been  'sacrificed'  by 
our  marriage,  instead  of  me!" 

"I'm  afraid  I  do,  Dorris,"  was  the 
grave  reply.  Before  your  marriage  I  felt 
as  though  you  were  selling  your  woman 
hood,  your  youth,  but  now  I  fear  his 
happiness  was  the  price  he  paid  for 
you !" 

"Well,  he  would  have  me!"  retorted 
Dorris,  petulantly,  and  then  she  drew  a 
long  sigh.  "Oh,  Sissy,  if  I  could  only  be 
as  good  and  splendid  as  you  are.  You 
look  so  happy  to-night,  happier  with 
your  prospect  of  a  life  of  mean  economies 
before  you,  than  /am  with  all  my  money 
and  the  world  at  my  feet !  Why  are  we 
so  different?  I  couldn't  be  happy  if  I 
were  to  be  poor  again,  you  know  !" 


A  SEARCH  FOR  SENSATIONS.  63 

"Not  even  with  love?"  asked  her  sister, 
softly. 

Dorris  shook  her  head,  turning  slowly 
away. 

'  'No,  not  even  with  love!"  she  answered 
drearily,  as  she  left  the  room. 


64  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 


CHAPTER  X. 


September  and  October  had  passed, 
and  November  held  full  sway. 

Flowers  lay  withered  by  the  chilly  kiss 
of  frost,  while  the  trees,  disrobing, 
blushed  at  the  freedom  of  the  winds. 

Miss  Darlington  had  been  Mrs.  Leigh 
Kurt  for  over  a  month,  and  Dorris  found 
life  a  very  difficult  thing.  John  had 
made  no  demands  upon  her,  but  the  look 
in  Sissy's  eyes  when  she  kissed  her  good 
bye  had  haunted  her  ever  since,  and 
compelled  her  to  exert  herself  for  his 
amusement  with  unwonted  zeal 

To  judge  from  his  appearance  as  he 
sat  at  the  breakfast  table,  overlooking 
the  mail,  he  had  thriven  upon  this  new 
treatment. 

"  Two  letters  for  Mrs.  John  Dryden," 
he  said,  handing  them  across  to  her. 
"  One  is  from  Louise,  isn't  it?" 


A  SEARCH  FOR  SENSATIONS.  65 

"  Yes,  and  the  other  from  Allan  Kip." 

She  did  not  see  his  brow  cloud  at  that 
name,  for  she  had  opened  the  letter  and 
was  reading  its  contents  eagerly. 

"He  is  coming  at  last!"  she  cried. 
"  He  says  he  may  drop  down  on  us  at 
any  time,  and  brings  his  new  found  fame 
to  share  with  me,  because  it  was  my 
picture  that  first  brought  it  to  him." 

She  laughed,  beginning  to  re-read  por 
tions  of  the  letter. 

"  Have  you  forgotten  your  letter  from 
Louise?" 

She  started  at  his  tone.  "  Of  course 
not,"  she  replied,  flushing  slightly  as  she 
glanced  at  his  face,  and  slipping  the 
other  missive  into  her  pocket. 

"  Dear  old  Sissy  !  I  wonder  if  she  is 
still  in  Paradise?" 

Mrs.  Kurt's  letter  was  long  and  closely 
written. 

"  '  Summer  has  not  yet  left  us,'"  she 
wrote. 

"  Of  course  not,"  sighed  Dorris.  "  She 
and  Leigh  would  think  it  was  summer  as 


66  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 

long  as  they  could  gaze  into  each  other's 
eyes." 

"  '  And  we  are  enjoying  each  moment 
in  this  wonderful  climate.  It  seems  like 
the  sweet  old  story  of  the  Garden  of 
Eden  that  Leigh  and  I  are  living  over 
again,  only  that  the  serpent  is  happily 
absent. 

"  '  I  never  knew  such  content  was  pos 
sible  for  mortals  to  taste.  It  is  so  won 
derful  to  be  always  with  him.  We  walk 
together,  and  read,  and  sing,  and  talk. 
Oh,  it's  marvelous  how  much  we  have  to 
talk  over. 

"  '  And  then,  in  the  twilight  we  draw 
close  to  each  other'  " 

Dorris  broke  off  abruptly.  "  This  is 
positively  worse  than  any  dime  novel  I 
ever  read,"  she  exclaimed.  "  Sissy  is  old 
enough  to  know  better.  It  makes  me  ill 
to  read  such  stuff." 

She  tossed  the  letter  to  her  husband 
and  rose  from  her  seat. 

His   eyes  followed  her   wistfully,  but 


A  SEARCH  FOR  SENSATIONS.  67 

he  did  not  speak,  and  she  stood  at  the 
window  while  he  finished  the  letter. 

Suddenly  the  door  opened  and  a  young 
man  sprangto  meet  her  with  outstretched 
hands. 

"  Allan  !"  she  cried. 

He  kissed  her  hands  with  a  foreign 
grace  that  suited  him  well,  and  turned  to 
John  Dryden. 

"I  wanted  to  surprise  you,"  he  laughed. 

The  old  man  looked  at  him  as  he  stood 
talking  to  Dorris.  How  young  and 
handsome  he  was,  with  the  fire  of  genius 
in  his  great  dark  eyes,  and  how  bright 
her  face  appeared  as  she  lifted  it  to  his. 
He  watched  the  color  come  and  go  in  her 
cheeks,  feeling  suddenly  very  old  and 
tired — so  tired  ! 

After  this  the  days  flew  by  on  bright- 
hued  wings  for  young  Mrs.  Dryden. 

All  the  time  Allan  could  spare  from 
his  painting,  he  spent  at  her  side,  and  no 
one  seemed  to  notice  that  the  light  had 
left  John  Dryden's  face,  giving  place  to  a 
patient  resignation  which  held  an  epitome 


68  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 

of  pathos.  No  one  observed  that  he 
shrank  more  and  more  within  himself  as 
the  winter  rolled  by,  until  it  was  a  rare 
thing  to  find  him  in  the  drawing-room, 
or  anywhere  but  in  his  own  apartments. 

Dorris  was  in  her  element.  As  the 
privileged  friend  of  society's  new  idol, 
she  reigned  supreme,  and  she  gave  a 
series  of  teas,  at  which  she  received  with 
Allan  by  her  side,  clad  in  his  most 
picturesque  garb,  and  with  the  dreamy 
look  in  his  beautiful  eyes  which  caused 
the  women  to  flutter  about  him  like  a 
flock  of  enamored  doves. 

And  so  the  snow  fell,  hiding  the 
earth's  worn  and  scarred  face  with  its 
virginal  veil  of  purity,  and  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Kurt  returned  to  settle  down  in  their 
cosy  little  home. 

Dorris  still  went  to  "  Sissy  "  when  in 
need  of  comfort,  and  was  always  glad  to 
have  her  come  to  the  "big  house,"  for 
her  visits  brightened  John  and  chased 
away  that  reproachful  expression  in  his 


A  SEARCH  FOR  SENSATIONS.  69 

eyes  which  annoyed  her  so  that  she 
avoided  him  as  much  as  possible. 

Mrs.  Kurt  had  been  shocked  at  the 
change  she  found  in  him,  but  she  soon 
discovered  that  remonstrance  was  useless. 

Leigh  was  indignant.  "Your  sister  is 
killing  him  by  her  heartlessness,"  he  said 
to  her  one  day.  "He  was  only  lonely 
before  his  marriage,  but  now  he  is 
wretched." 

There  was  another  anxietythat  weighed 
upon  her  which  she  dared  not  mention, 
even  to  Leigh.  It  had  haunted  her  ever 
since  she  had  surprised  Dorris  and  Allan 
in  the  music  room  one  afternoon.  Their 
start  at  her  sudden  entrance,  the  hot  flush 
in  her  sister's  averted  face,  told  her  more 
than  she  cared  to  know  and  filled  her 
with  forebodings. 

All  through  the  winter  she  watched 
and  prayed  with  a  dull  despair  gnawing 
at  her  heart,  wondering  what  the  end 
would  be. 


7O  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 


CHAPTER    XI. 


"Sissy!  Sissy!  Where  are  you?  One 
would  think  it  an  easy  task  to  find  you 
in  such  a  box  of  a  house  as  this.  Well, 
now  you  are  happy,  I  suppose!" 

Young  Mrs.  John  paused  on  the 
threshold  of  the  kitchen,  holding  aside 
her  silken  skirts  with  one  gloved  hand, 
as  she  surveyed  the  scene  before  her. 

"  Mrs.  Kurt  was  on  her  knees  before 
the  stove,  while  an  appearance  of  general 
disorder  prevailed. 

She  let  her  hands  fall  in  her  lap,  as  she 
looked  up  at  her  sister  with  a  twinkle  in 
her  eyes. 

"Don't  despise  poor  Cinderella,  my 
haughty  sister,"  she  cried,  the  twinkle 
broadening  into  a  laugh,  as  the  contrast 
between  them  was  borne  in  upon  her. 

"  I  am  not  always  like  this,  but  acci- 


A  SEARCH  FOR  SENSATIONS.  71 

dents  will  happen,  and  this  morning 
Judith  burned  her  hand  and  had  to  go 
home  for  a  week's  rest,  and  /haven't  the 
slightest  idea  how  to  make  this  stove 
work.  All  the  dampers  seem  invented 
to  extinguish  the  fire,  no  matter  how  I 
may  arrange  them.  Can't  you  give  me 
an  idea  how  to  manage  it?" 

"Heavens,  no!"  exclaimed  Dorris, 
stepping  gingerly  across  the  floor  and 
perching  herself  upon  a  corner  of  the 
kitchen  table. 

"Do  get  up  and  wash  your  hands, 
Louise.  It's  disgraceful  for  you  to  look 
like  that.  I  can't  see  how  you  can  be 
happy  living  in  such  a  stuffy  sort  of 
way." 

Mrs.  Kurt  laughed ;  her  eyes  were 
sparkling,  and  Dorris  thought  she  had 
never  seen  her  look  so  bright  and  pretty. 

"I  love  it!"  she  cried,  rising  to  do  as 
her  sister  asked.  "Every  inch  of  this 
snug  little  nest  is  dear  to  me,  and  I  would 
rather  have  it  than  all  your  grandeur.  It 
is  a  home  I  want — not  a  palace." 


72  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 

Young  Mrs.  Dryden  looked  about  the 
tiny  kitchen  disdainfully,  but  the  other 
only  laughed. 

"  'Disdain,  Thou  art  the  brightest, 
The  daintiest,  the  lightest 
Of  all  the  sins  of  Earth,'  " 

she  quoted  gaily. 

' '  Come,  Dorris,  let  me  and  my  peculiar 
tastes  pass  by,  and  tell  me  what  has 
brought  you  over  this  morning.  Is  John 
ill?" 

"Of  course  not!  Why  should  he  be? 
He  takes  most  awfully  good  care  of  his 
health.  I  just  came  over  because  I  was 
bored  with  everything  and  I  wanted  a 
change  of  air." 

"  Well,  you  got  it,  but  it  doesn't  seem 
to  agree  with  you.  Take  off  your  hat  and 
stay  till  Leigh  comes  home.  We'll  have 
to  have  a  cold  lunch,  because  I  can't  make 
the  stove  work,  but  you  won't  mind  that, 
for  you  feast  every  day  in  the  year." 

Dorris  watched  her  sister  bustling 
cheerily  about  her  little  domain,  setting 
the  table  with  deftness,  cutting  thin 


A  SEARCH  FOR  SENSATIONS.  73 

slices  of  creamy-looking  bread  and  bring 
ing  out  home-made  preserves  with  a 
proud  and  house-wifely  smile. 

"  I'm  always  wishing  to  myself  that  I 
could  be  like  you,  Sissy,"  she  said  at  last, 
but  the  opening  of  the  front  door  pre 
vented  Mrs.  Kurt's  reply,  as  she  ran  out 
into  the  hall  to  meet  her  husband. 

Dorris  still  perched  upon  the  table, 
heard  the  sound  of  smothered  caresses, 
intermingled  with  low-toned,  tender  mur- 
murings. 

Idiots !  "  she  ejaculated,  feeling  in 
some  way  personally  aggrieved  as  they 
came  in  with  smiling  lips  and  joy-kissed 
eyes. 

They  sat  down  to  the  luncheon  which, 
though  daintily  served,  smacked  of  an 
economy  that  was  too  suggestive  of  by 
gone  days  to  give  her  any  real  enjoy 
ment. 

Yet  how  gay  "Sissy"  seemed.  She 
and  Leigh  were  like  two  children  playing 
"  tea  party."  They  laughed  over  the 
simplest  joke  with  a  heartiness  that  made 


74  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 

her  marvel,  and  when  Leigh  was  sent  to 
replenish  the  sugar  bowl,  bringing  it  back 
rilled  with  salt,  how  they  did  laugh  over 
the  mistake. 

After  lunch  Leigh  donned  a  big  check 
apron  and  pretended  to  help  clear  the 
table,  but  after  dropping  the  best  cut- 
glass  dish  he  was  turned  out,  covered 
with  disgrace  and — kisses. 

"  I  think  I  will  go,  too,"  Dorris  yawned. 

"  Do  we  bore  you?" 

"  Yes — a  little.  You  are  so  abominably 
happy.  I  feel  as  if  I  had  eaten  lunch  in 
a  candy  shop." 

Her  sister  laughed,  though  her  eyes 
dwelt  upon  the  face  opposite  with  tender 
regret.  "  I'm  sorry  you  can't  be  '  abom 
inably  happy,'  too,"  she  said.  "  Where 
are  you  going  now?" 

"To  the 'Zoo.'  It's  quite  the  fad  to 
go  to  the  Gardens  this  year,  and  I  have 
fallen  in  love  with  a  great  white  bear, 
who  is  as  tame  as  a  kitten  and  lets  me 
feed  and  pet  him  all  I  wish.  His  trainer 


A  SEARCH  FOR  SENSATIONS.  75 

has  taught  him  to  dance  the  minuette  on 
his  hind  legs,  and  he  does  it  adorably." 

Mrs.  Kurt  stood  on  the  little  porch 
watching  the  vanishing  vision  of  bright 
silks  and  floating  laces. 

"Poor  little  Dorris !"  she  sighed. 
"  Poor,  poor  John  !  " 

She  lifted  her  eyes  to  the  white  float 
ing  clouds  above,  letting  her  fancies  drift 
idly  along  with  them. 

The  soft  spring  air  touched  her  fore 
head  like  a  kiss  of  Hope,  and  the  twit 
tering  of  two  domesticated  birds  told  her 
that  summer  was  near.  What  was  this 
mysterious  promise  that  the  spring  always 
held,  filling  every  heart  with  subtle  bliss, 
with  the  feeling  that  joy  was  coming, 
coming,  coming? 

Each  springtide,  in  the  scorching  heat 
of  summer,  died  ;  always  the  chilly  win 
ter  winds  chased  away  the  birds,  cover 
ing  old  earth  with  ice  and  snow  once 
more.  Yet  still  the  springtime  brought 
back  its  mystic  joy  to  hearts,  and  flowers 


76  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 

burst  into  bloom  as  if  Death  was  but  a 
forgotten  fancy. 

A  bright-eyed  bird  hopped  to  her  feet 
in  happy  trust ;  a  bursting  bud  on  the  vine 
above  brushed  her  cheek,  and  a  soft  breeze 
stole  to  her  as  if  it  were  a  message  of 
love  from  the  arching  Heavens. 

"  Ah  !"  she  cried,  in  sudden  ecstacy. 
"It  is  a  foretaste  of  eternal  joy  which 
comes  to  us  in  this  brief  season  of  Prom 
ise !  Spring  is  the  Easter  of  our  hearts, 
in  its  sweetness  we  taste  the  bliss  that  is 
to  come." 


A  SEARCH  FOR  SENSATIONS.  77 


CHAPTER  XII. 


A  week  later  the  quiet  street  resounded 
to  the  steel-clad  hoofs  of  two  well  groomed 
horses,  and  curious  neighbors  ran  to  their 
windows  to  watch  as  the  handsome  turn 
out  stopped  before  Mrs.  Leigh  Kurt's 
modest  home. 

Dorris  had  sent  a  note  to  her  sister  : 

"  I'm  going  to  give  a  ball  and  I'm 
awfully  busy,  but  John  is  ill,  and  thinks 
I  ought  to  stay  at  home  and  nurse  him. 
Do  come  and  cheer  him  up  and  give  me 
a  chance  to  do  a  few  of  the  hundred 
things  necessary.  I'm  going  to  have  a 
surprise  that  will  be  the  sensation  of  the 
season,  but  even  you  aren't  to  know  of  it 
'till  the  night  of  the  ball.  It's  a  grand 
secret !  Come  take  care  of  John  for  me 
to-day.  Do !" 

Mrs.  Kurt  wondered  what  her  sister 
had  in  her  head  this  time,  but  when  she 


78  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 

reached  the  house  she  found  John  so 
feverish  and  sick  that  everything  else 
went  out  of  her  mind. 

She  tried  to  sooth  him  by  reading 
aloud,  but  he  begged  her  to  stop,  saying 
he  would  rather  talk.  She  laid  aside  the 
book  and  took  up  her  embroidery,  but  he 
only  lay  looking  at  her  with  dim,  sad 
dened  eyes. 

At  last  she  began  to  speak  of  the  ball 
and  the  secret  Dorris  treasured,  and  at 
the  mention  of  that  name  he  broke  in  a 
fit  of  weeping  that  startled  her  out  of 
her  usual  self-possession. 

"Oh,  don't,  don't,"  she  cried,  running 
to  him.  "  It  is  so  dreadful  to  hear  you 
cry  like  this.  What  is  the  trouble  ? 
Won't  you  tell  me?  Won't  you  let  me 
help  you?" 

"  I  am  so  old,  so  old,"  he  sobbed, 
"  and  I  am  dying,  Louise.  I  shall  have 
to  go  away  and  leave  her — my  beautiful 
Dorris  !  She  will  be  glad  to  have  me  go, 
too.  She  will  welcome  freedom,  and 
then  she  will  marry  some  young  lover  and 


A  SEARCH  FOR  SENSATIONS.  79 

forget  me.  Forget  me — the  troublesome 
old  man,  who  tires  her  with  his  devo 
tion.  Oh,  I  love  her  so,  Louise,  with  all 
the  arder  of  youth,  with  all  the  depth  of 
age  !" 

Mrs.  Kurt  could  find  nothing  to  say  in 
the  face  of  this  misery.  She  had  warned 
him  in  the  old  days,  but  he  had  not  lis 
tened,  and  now  he  must  bear  his  pain 
alone. 

As  if  reading  her  thought  he  cried  : 
"  But  I  am  glad  I  made  her  my  wife. 
She  is  mine,  mine,  mine,  and  I  have  had 
hours  of  bliss  that  is  worth  the  misery. 
You  mustn't  blame  her,  Louise.  You  are 
a  good  woman,  and  all  good  women  are 
hard  sometimes,  but  you  mustn't  blame 
my  Dorris  too  harshly,  She  is  so  bright, 
so  winsome,  so  gay  and  young,  it  is  not 
her  fault  that  she  can  not  bear  to  be  tied 
to  this  shrunken  body.  But,  oh,  if  only 
she  could  see  my  heart — how  young  it  is 
— how  full  of  passionate  love  for  her ! 
But  she  can't,  she  can't.  There  is  no 
help  for  me,  no  help,  no  help." 


80  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 

He  lay  among  the  pillows  and  groaned 
aloud. 

His  companion  knelt  beside  him  full 
of  unspoken  sympathy,  and  gradually 
the  storm  spent  itself,  leaving  him  shaken 
and  weak. 

"You  are  very  patient  with  the  old 
man,"  he  murmured,  looking  up  into  her 
face  with  an  effort  to  smile. 

For  answer  she  stooped  and  kissed  him. 

Leigh  came  in  as  the  daylight  faded, 
and  they  sat  talking  together  in  the 
gathering  twilight  until  the  regular 
breathing  from  the  couch  told  them  the 
old  man  had  fallen  asleep,  and  they  stole 
quietly  out,  leaving  him  alone  in  the 
midst  of  the  creeping  shadows  of  the 
night. 


A  SEARCH  FOR  SENSATIONS.  8l 


CHAPTER  XIII. 


When  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kurt  reached  the 
big  house  on  the  night  of  the  ball,  they 
found  it  ablaze  with  light.  The  air  was 
heavy  with  the  scent  of  flowers  and 
guests  were  arriving  in  a  continuous 
stream. 

"Where  is  John?"  Louise  asked,  meet 
ing  Dorris  on  the  stairs. 

"He  isn't  well  enough  to  come  down. 
Isn't  my  gown  lovely,  Sissy?  It's  a  sen 
sation  in  itself!"  She  passed  on  as  she 
spoke,  and  her  sister  turned  towards 
John's  room. 

All  was  dim  and  quiet  in  that  far-off 
nook,  and  the  master  of  the  house  lay 
back  among  his  pillows  with  weary, 
sleepless  eyes  staring  into  the  gloom. 

"It  is  like  you  to  come  to  the  old  man," 
he  said,  holding  her  hands  in  his  and 


82  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 

gently  patting  them.  "Did  you  see 
Dorris?  She  looks  like  a  lily — a  beauti 
ful,  pure,  Easter  lily.  When  she  came 
to  see  me  before  going  downstairs,  it 
seemed  as  if  summer  had  come  back  to 
me  !  Her  face  was  like  the  wild  roses  I 
used  to  gather  in  the  country  years  ago. 
But  it  was  a  dream,  Louise.  I  am  only 
an  old  man,  up  here  alone  in  the  dark, 
while  all  the  world  makes  merry  and  for 
gets  me!" 

"Not  all  the  world,  dear." 

"No,  you  are  one  of  the  faithful.  But 
you  must  go  now,  she  opens  the  ball  at 
ten.  Goodnight,  don't  let  the  memory 
of  me  spoil  your  pleasure.  I  must  surely 
go  to  sleep  soon,  now,  and  it  has  done 
me  good  to  see  you.  Tell  Leigh  he  has 
the  sweetest  woman  on  earth  for  his 
wife." 

She  turned  away  regretfully,  feeling 
out  of  the  mood  for  the  gay  scene  below. 

Leigh  was  waiting  for  her  downstairs. 

"Dorris  has  outdone  herself,"  he  said. 
"  Every  one "  was  there.  The  bril- 


A  SEARCH  FOR  SENSATIONS.  83 

liantly  lighted  rooms  thronged  with  men 
and  women  whose  names  stood  high  in 
the  social  scale,  and  all  were  alike  curious 
to  know  what  new  eccentricity  Mrs. 
Dryden  was  about  to  commit. 

At  last  the  opening  bars  of  the  minu- 
ette  were  played  by  the  flower-screened 
orchestra,  and  the  heavy  curtains  at  the 
end  of  the  room  were  drawn  back,  dis 
closing  a  scene  which  electrified  the  com 
pany. 

Dorris  stood  facing  them,  clad  in  her 
picturesque  gown  of  white ;  she  held  her 
head  high,  and  her  eyes  were  dark  with 
excitement.  With  one  hand  she  brushed 
aside  the  draperies  and  the  other  rested 
lightly  upon  the  neck  of  a  large  white 
bear,  who  stood  upon  his  hind  legs  at  her 
side,  gravely  gazing  at  the  throng  of 
richly  dressed  people  out  of  his  greedy 
little  eyes. 

Confusion  reigned !  Dignified  chap- 
erones  screamed,  nervous  girls  fainted 
and  men  backed  against  the  walls  endeav- 


84  SOCIETY   SILHOUETTES. 

oring  not  to  show  their  fear  to  the  fash 
ionable  world. 

Mrs.  Kurt  stood  as  if  turned  to  stone, 
but  Allan  Kip  sprang  forward  in  horror. 

Dorris  waved  him  aside  with  an  im 
perative  gesture,  advancing  to  the  center 
of  the  room  beside  her  burly  escort. 

Together  they  began  to  bow  and  turn 
in  the  stately  figures  of  the  dance.  Per 
fectly  in  time  kept  Bruin,  turning  and 
twisting,  bowing  and  swaying  as  grace 
fully  as  any  old  spark  of  the  old  regime, 
and  Dorris  smiled  upon  him  with  all  the 
witchery  of  coquettish  womanhood. 

The  guests  looked  on  in  speechless 
amazement.  A  breathless  silence  had 
fallen  upon  all.  The  indescribable  charm 
of  the  weird,  ever-changing  picture  fasci 
nated  them,  and  gradually  the  first  shock 
of  terror  subsided,  as  they  gazed  in  spell 
bound  wonder. 

To  and  fro,  up  and  back,  moved  the 
two  white  forms,  swaying  rythmically  to 
the  melting  music.  The  clumsily  grace 
ful  animal  leading  the  slender  and  wil- 


A  SEARCH  FOR  SENSATIONS.  85 

lowy  woman, — was  ever  such  a  sight  wit 
nessed  in  a  ballroom  before? 

Allan's  face  was  white,  and  the  eyes 
following  every  movement  of  the  dancers 
were  filled  with  suppressed  fire. 

At  last  the  pantomime  came  to  an  end  ; 
the  orchestra  drew  one  long,  sweet,  final 
note,  and  sir  Bruin  came  to  a  halt,  stand 
ing  erect  and  sedate,  gazing  waggishly 
over  his  shoulder  at  the  assembled  guests. 

Every  one  drew  a  sigh  of  relief  as  the 
curtains  fell  behind  his  majestic  form. 

"  Well,  I  never !  This  is  quite  too 
much  for  me!"  cried  one  old  lady,  de 
scending  from  a  chair  that  she  had 
mounted  in  her  first  fright.  "  Mrs.  John 
Dryden  may  think  she  has  been  funny, 
but  she  has  gone  too  far,  this  time!" 

A  tall  spinster  turned  to  the  girl  she 
chaperoned.  "  I'm  going  to  take  you 
home !"  she  said. 

Nevertheless,  there  were  plenty  to 
crowd  about  Dorris  with  exclamations  of 
amazement  and  admiration. 


86  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 

"How  did  you  happen  to  think  of  it," 
cried  one  girl. 

"I  was  so  frightened  at  first,  I  thought 
he  would  jump  over  every  one  and  eat 
me  up!"  put  in  another. 

"Dorris  laughed.  "Why  should  he 
eat  you,  if  he  left  me  untouched?  He  is 
as  tame  as  a  cat ;  I  know  him  well!" 

"How  did  you  happen  to  meet  your 
new  friend?"  asked  a  young  man  near 
by. 

"I  was  properly  introduced  by  his 
keeper  at  the  'Zoo  !'  "  she  answered.  "He 
used  to  watch  for  me  (and  the  cakes  I 
always  took  him)  and  one  day,  when  his 
trainer  made  him  dance  the  minuette,  I 
conceived  this  brilliant  idea,  just  to  vary 
the  monotony  of  the  ball,  you  know!" 

"  You  certainly  succeeded,  "broke  in 
her  sister's  voice,  "but  I'm  afraid  you 
have  made  enemies  by  your  absurdity." 

"  Don't  call  it  an  '  absurdity,1  Mrs. 
Kurt,  I  think  I  never  saw  so  charming  a 
sight  in  my  life.  It  was  a  beautiful  illus 
tration  of  '  Beauty  and  the  Beast.'  " 


A  SEARCH  FOR  SENSATIONS.  87 

Dorris  rewarded  the  speaker  with  a 
smile,  promising  him  the  honor  of  being 
her  next  partner. 

Late  in  the  evening  Allan  came  to  her. 

"Will  you  give  me  this  dance?"  he 
asked. 

She  looked  up  at  him  :  "I  don't  know 
whether  I  will  or  not!"  she  answered. 
"You  look  as  if  you  might  be  very  disa 
greeable  and  cross!" 

For  answer,  he  put  his  arm  around  her, 
and  drew  her  in  among  the  dancers.  He 
took  only  a  few  turns,  stopping  before  a 
small  room  called  "the  den,"  which  had 
not  been  thrown  open  to  the  guests  that 
night. 

He  closed  the  door  behind  them  and 
turned  to  face  her.  She  shrank  back. 

"What  makes  you  look  so  strangely?" 
she  whispered. 

"  Dorris!"  he  cried,  "have  I  placed 
you  upon  a  pedestal  that  is  too  high  for 
you  ?  Do  I  only  imagine  the  beauty  of 
soul  which  I  have  ascribed  to  you?  Are 


88  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 

you  the  tender  child  I  think,  or  only  a 
vain  and  empty  woman  of  the  world?" 

"Dorris  fidgeted.  "What  have  I  done 
to  be  so  scolded?" 

"Done!"  he  exclaimed.  "You  have 
made  yourself  conspicuous  in  the  most 
ridiculous  way,  to-night.  You  have 
offended  hundreds  of  your  friends,  and 
made  your  name  a  synonym  for  rapid  dare 
deviltry,  bad  taste  and  unwomanliness ! 
And  I  have  to  stand  aside,  helpless  to 
shield  you — I,  who  love  you  so,  oh, 
child!" 

She  stood  before  him  trembling  and 
clasping  her  fingers  nervously. 

He  looked  down  at  her.  "I'm  sorry, 
Allan!  I  only  thought  what  fun  it  would 
be  to  surprise  and  scare  them  all.  I  knew 
it  would  make  such  a  sensation." 

He  groaned  inwardly,  but  his  eyes 
softened  in  spite  of  himself,  and  she,  see 
ing  this,  drew  closer  to  him,  lifting  her 
face  to  his. 

"Allan!"  she  whispered,  "did  you 
mean — the  other?" 


A  SEARCH  FOR  SENSATIONS.  89 

He  caught  her  in  his  arms.  "You 
know  I  did!"  he  cried,  passionately.  "I 
have  loved  you  always  !" 


90  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 


CHAPTER   XIV. 


Lent  had  come  and  society  indulged 
only  in  afternoon  teas,  where  religious 
arguments  gave  a  fitting  tone  to  the  con 
versation. 

John  Dryden  had  become  a  confirmed 
invalid,  and  Dorris  begged  her  sister  to 
stay  with  her  for  his  sake,  an  argument 
which  prevailed  upon  Mrs.  Kurt  to  close 
her  own  little  home  and  move  up  into 
the  big  house,  temporarily. 

She  herself  felt  convinced  that  it  would 
not  be  necessarily  long,  though  no  one 
else  seemed  to  realize  that  John  Dryden's 
life  was  ebbing  away. 

"What  has  become  of  Allan  Kip?" 
she  asked,  one  day,  as  she  and  Dorris  sat 
busy  with  their  sewing  in  John's  room. 

Young  Mrs.  Dryden's  head  bent  lower 
over  her  work.  "He  has  gone  away," 


A  SEARCH  FOR  SENSATIONS.  91 

she  answered  at  last  in  a  half-smothered 
voice ;  and  though  nothing  more  was 
said,  she  rose  and  slipped  out  of  the  room 
soon  after. 

The  days  dragged  slowly  by,  dull, 
leaden-hued  and  dreary. 

Dorris  was  listless,  or  pitifully  gay, 
and  she  escaped  from  her  sister's  search 
ing  eyes  as  often  as  possible.  John's 
strength  failed  daily,  but  she  would  not 
see  it,  and  spent  as  little  of  her  time  in 
his  room  as  she  could. 

The  nursing  came  upon  Mrs.  Kurt,  but 
she  silenced  Leigh's  objections  by  saying 
that  it  comforted  her  to  do  all  she  could 
for  the  dying  man. 

The  end  came,  one  evening,  as  she  sat 
alone  with  him  in  the  twilight.  He  had 
been  more  than  usually  restless  that  day, 
and  she  was  tired  and  worn  out. 

He  fell  into  a  stupor,  at  last,  and  she 
listened  to  his  heavy  breathing  with  a 
feeling  of  relief.  Suddenly  he  called  to 
her  in  a  strong,  clear  voice,  and  she  ran 


92  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 

to  the  bedside  to  find  him  sitting  up 
without  the  support  of  his  pillows. 

"Louise  !"  he  cried,  "I  see  everything 
new.  I  have  been  thinking  of  what  I 
must  leave.  Now  I  see  to  what  I  am 
going.  Oh,  the  joy  of  it !  Worth  all  the 
pain  !  and  'He  shall  wipe  all  tears  away' 
— all  tears — all  tears  awa " 

The  words  died  in  a  low  murmur.  His 
face  caught  the  light  of  some  wondrous, 
reflected  glory,  and  he  smiled  radiantly  as 
his  spirit  winged  itself  free. 

She  stood  with  clasped  hands,  thrilled 
by  that  low,  rapturous  cry  ;  vaguely  yearn 
ing  to  follow  his  soul  in  its  blissful  flight, 
and  watching  the  glory  slowly  fade  from 
the  stiffening  features,  leaving  them 
vacant  and  frozen  under  the  touch  of 
Death. 

A  light  laugh  floated  up   from  below. 

John  Dryden  was  dead — and  Dorris 
was  free.  What  would  she  do  with  her 
freedom  ? 

Her  soul  turned  from  its  heavenly 
yearnings  with  a  shock  of  pain.  Nearer 


A  SEARCH  FOR  SENSATIONS.  93 

and  nearer  came  the  sound ;  careless, 
charming  the  laugh  that  had  made  all 
the  music  of  the  dead  man's  life. 

The  door  opened  :  "  Is  John  awake?  I 
want  to  show  him " 

The  words  ended  in  a  cry  of  abject 
terror,  and  Mrs.  Kurt  caught  the  little 
figure  as  it  swayed  backwards. 

"  Hush !"  she  said,  feeling  almost  as  if 
the  cry  might  waken  the  peaceful  sleeper. 

"  He  was  glad  to  go,  Dorris  ;  the  last 
thing  he  said  was  that  the  joy  was  worth 
all  the  pain." 

Dorris  clung  to  her.  "  Did  /kill  him?" 
she  whispered.  "  Did  I  break  his  heart? 
You  said  once  that  I  would!" 

Her  sister  did  not  answer. 

"  Oh  !  I  wish  I  had  been  better  to  him  ! 
I  never  believed  he  was  going  to  die  ! 
Oh,  Sissy  !  the  thought  of  him  will  haunt 
me  forever  and  ever  and  ever !  Did  I 
break  his  heart?  Say  no!  no!  no!" 

She  was  working  herself  into  a  frenzy, 
and  her  eyes  demanded  an  answer. 

"  I  think  God  wanted  to  give   him  a 


94  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 

greater  joy  than  ever  your  love  could  be 
stow,  Dorris,  so  He  took  him  to  Himself. 
He  needs  nothing  now  ;  his  bliss  is  com 
plete." 

Her  words  fell  on  deaf  ears.  Dorris 
was  sobbing  out  all  her  remorse  and  ter 
ror  in  her  arms. 

"  Come,"  she  whispered,  "  let  us  leave 
him  to  rest  in  his  perfect  peace.  We 
must  go  on  living." 

The  world  was  not  surprised  to  hear  of 
John  Dryden's  death,  and  many  there 
were  to  blame  the  frivolous  young  wife, 
but  some  sighed  pityingly  as  they 
watched  the  slight  figure,  in  its  heavy 
crepe,  going  about  with  half-frightened, 
haunted  eyes. 

The  will  was  opened,  and,  with  the 
exception  of  a  legacy  to  Leigh  Kurt  and 
his  wife,  all  John  Dryden's  wealth  was 
left  to  his  wife  as  long  as  she  remained 
his  widow!  In  case  of  her  remarriage 
the  entire  fortune  passed  to  a  distant 
relative. 

At  first,  Dorris  would  not  believe  in  the 


A  SEARCH  FOR  SENSATIONS.  95 

irrevocableness  of  this  decree  of  the  dead 
man's  jealousy,  but,  when  convinced,  she 
went  about  like  one  stunned,  with  a 
strange  despair  in  her  eyes. 

Slowly  the  sultry  summer  days  wore 
away,  and  gradually  the  apathy  which 
had  enveloped  her  gave  place  to  a  fever 
ish  restlessness. 

The  sound  of  the  door-bell  caused  her 
to  start  nervously.  She  trembled  per 
ceptibly  when  she  opened  the  mail  bag, 
and,  at  last,  that  which  she  waited  for, 
came. 


96  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 


CHAPTER  XV. 


Allan  Kip  entered  the  room  where 
Dorris  and  her  sister  sat,  unannounced. 

He  was  looking  eager,  young,  full  of 
hope  and  happiness,  but  Dorris  would  not 
meet  his  eyes. 

Mrs.  Kurt  rose  to  leave  the  room  soon 
after  he  came  in,  but  resumed  her  seat 
when  she  caught  an  imploring  glance 
from  her  sister. 

She  did  her  best  to  give  some  life  to 
the  conversation,  but  Dorris  sat  silent 
and  Allan  gave  her  random  replies  as  he 
let  his  gaze  devour  the  small,  black-robed 
figure,  with  eyes  full  of  leaping  love- 
light.  She  found  her  task  impossible, 
and  rose  at  last  with  a  decision  which 
paid  no  heed  to  imploring  glances. 

As  she  left  the  room,  the  sound  of  an 
impulsive  movement  and  smothered  cry 
of  joy  reached  her  ear. 


A  SEARCH  FOR  SENSATIONS.  97 

"Thank  God!"  she  ejaculated.  "Love 
will  make  a  woman  of  her,  and  she  will 
know  true  happiness  at  last!" 

And  Dorris? 

Her  face  was  hidden  on  Allan's  breast. 

"Don't  cry,  sweetheart!"  he  whisp 
ered.  "All  our  troubles  are  over;  a  life 
of  love  lies  before  us !  Think  of  it,  my 
beautiful,  we  will  be  forever  together, 
together,  together.  Ah  !  what  a  heaven 
that  will  be  !  Do  you  know  how  I  have 
yearned  for  a  glimpse  of  your  face,  the 
sound  of  your  voice,  a  touch  of  this  soft, 
little  hand?" 

He  kissed  the  fingers. 

"  But  all  the  mysery  is  past !  Now  I 
shall  have  you  always  near  me,  giving 
me  inspiration  by  your  beauty,  comfort 
in  your  love,  and  joy  through  your  joy- 
ousness !" 

"  Look  up  at  me,  my  sweet.  I  came 
to  you  the  moment  the  news  of  your 
freedom  reached  me  in  the  desert  where 
I  and  my  grief  were  hiding.  Look  up 
and  tell  me  you  are  glad,  let  me  hear  you 


98  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 

say  you  love  me.  Why,  Dorris,  what 
makes  you  look  so  strangely?" 

The  face  she  raised  to  his  was  white, 
the  lids  drooped  over  eyes  that  were  filled 
with  a  sort  of  dumb  terror.  He  gazed  at 
her,  and  his  close  clasp  loosened ;  dread 
quenched  his  joy. 

"What  is  it?"  he  cried. 

She  struggled  to  reply,  but  her  trem 
bling  lips  refused  to  do  her  bidding. 

"  Dorris,  you  torture  me.     Speak?" 

"I  can't;  I  am  afraid!"  she  whispered. 

"  Afraid?  Are  you  hiding  some  secret 
from  me  that  will  prevent  our  marriage  ?" 

She  shivered.     "  Yes,  the  will !" 

For  a  moment  he  looked  at  her  in  un 
comprehending  perplexity,  then  a  sudden 
storm  broke  over  him. 

"The  will!"  he  cried,  flinging  her 
from  him.  "The  will,  which  robs  you 
of  your  wealth  at  your  remarriage  !  Is  it 
that  which  has  come  between  us  !  You 
would  give  up  such  love  as  I  give  you  for 
a  life  of  empty  luxury?  You  would 
blight  my  soul  to  robe  your  body  in  laces 


A  SEARCH  FOR  SENSATIONS.  99 

and  satins?  You  would  sell  your  God- 
given  womanhood  for  a  mess  of  pottage  ?" 

He  stopped,  choked  by  his  passion. 

Cowering,  she  stood  before  him,  hiding 
her  face  in  her  hands. 

'  'And  you  told  me  that  you  loved 
me!"  he  cried,  his  words  tumbling  over 
one  another  like  leaping  flames.  "  Love!" 
Such  women  as  you  desecrate  the  word. 
What  can  soulless  beings  know  of  its 
divine  meaning?  Oh!  you  beautiful, 
worthless  bauble  of  flesh  and  blood. 
What  fiend  gives  you  your  power  to  win 
the  adoration  of  true-hearted  men?" 

His  voice  broke  in  a  sob,  and  at  the 
sound  she  raised  her  face  to  his,  tear-wet, 
pleading ;  so  like  a  tender,  innocent 
child's,  asking  for  pardon. 

«'  I  do  love  you !"  she  faltered.  "But 
you  can't  understand  how  afraid  I  am 
to  be  poor !  If  I  married  you  and  had  to 
live  as  I  did  in  the  old  days,  I  might 
grow  to  be  sorry.  I  can't  help  it.  I  think 
this  dread  of  poverty  was  born  in  me.  I 
can't  overcome  the  fear  of  it !  Just  wait, 


IOO  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 

that's  all  I  ask.  Wait  'till  you  can  be 
come  a  great  artist,  so  we  won't  have  to 
be  very  poor,  and  then " 

He  cut  her  short  with  a  gesture  of 
command,  and  turned  away  towards  the 
door.  "God  help  me!"  she  heard  him 
murmur. 

Was  he  going  to  leave  her?  "  Allan  !" 
she  cried,  grasping  a  chair  to  keep  her 
self  from  falling.  "Allan!  Allan!  Oh, 
come  back — listen  to  me.  I  can't  have 
you  go  away  !  I  love  you— oh,  I  do  love 
you " 

The  door  shut  sharply  upon  her  cry, 
leaving  her  alone  in  her  shame  and 
despair. 

Mrs.  Kurt,  hearing  the  front  door  close 
behind  him,  ran  down  stairs  with  joyous 
congratulations  upon  her  lips, but  stopped 
in  amazement  as  her  eyes  fell  upon  her 
sister,  standing  white  and  rigid  in  the 
middle  of  the  room. 

"What  has  happened?"  she  cried. 

"Allan  hates  me — he  flung  me  away 


A  SEARCH  FOR  SENSATIONS.         IOI 

from  him.  Oh  !  I  cannot  tell  you  how 
terrible  he  was !" 

Mrs.  Kurt's  face  flushed.  "  How  dared 
he?"  she  exclaimed. 

Dorris  threw  herself  upon  the  couch, 
burying  her  head  in  the  pillows.  "  I 
told  him  I  was  afraid  to  be  poorf"1  she 
sobbed,  "  and  he  wouldn't  listen  while  I 
explained  it  to  him.  He  called  me  dread 
ful  things,  and  left  me,  and  oh,  Sissy,  I 
didn't  know  'till  now,  how  much  I  do  love 
him!" 

H  How  could  a  woman  with  a  soul  treat 
the  man  she  loved  like  that?"  cried  her 
sister. 

"Oh  don't!  don't!  That's  what  he 
said.  You  ought  to  understand,  Sissy. 
You've  often  told  me  that  you  believed  I 
was  impressed  with  the  horror  of  pov 
erty  before  I  was  born.  Mother  and 
father  and  you  were  so  awfully  poor 
then.  I  can't  help  it.  I  tell  you  I  dread 
it  as  I  do  death!" 

The  scorn  in  her  sister's  eyes  softened. 

"That  is  true,"  she  said,  thoughtfully. 


IO2  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 

"  Perhaps  lam  judging  you  harshly,  but, 
oh,  Dorris,  are  you  only  a  butterfly  that 
dances  brightly  when  the  sun  shines  and 
hides  in  terror  when  the  clouds  draw 
near?" 

Choking  sobs  were  her  only  answer. 
She  sighed  and  stroked  the  tumbled  hair. 

"  There,  don't  work  yourself  into  a  fit 
of  sickness  with  your  crying.  God  made 
the  butterflies  as  well  as  the  greater 
things  of  life,  so  he  must  have  some  use 
for  them,  and  if  you  can  only  exist  in  the 
sunshine  you'll  have  to  have  it,  I  suppose, 
so  don't  fret.  Allan  will  come  back  to 
you." 

Her  words  comforted  Dorris,  and  grad 
ually  her  sobbing  ceased. 

But  the  days  came  and  went,  and 
brought  no  sign  from  Allan. 


A  SEARCH  FOR  SENSATIONS.         103 


CHAPTER  XVI. 


Christmas  bells  made  merry  music 
through  the  frosty  air. 

Mrs.  Kurt  sat  in  a  low  chair  beside  the 
fire,  cradling  in  her  arms  a  fleecy  bundle 
of  laces  and  flannels. 

Dorris  lay  at  full  length  in  an  easy 
chair  near-by,  and  Leigh  stood  at  the 
window, turning  now  and  then  to  feast  his 
happy  eyes  on  the  picture  before  the  fire. 

"  Every  one  seems  to  be  in  such  a  jolly 
mood,"  he  said.  "  I  have  been  counting 
the  faces  that  passed,  and  nine  out  of  ten 
have  been  wreathed  in  smiles.  Is  it  so 
every  Christmas  ?  I've  never  noticed  it 
before." 

His  wife  smiled,  resting  her  cheek 
against  the  downy  head  nestling  in  her 
arms.  "  It  is  your  own  joy  you  see  re 
flected,"  she  said.  "  I  think  I  never  knew 


104  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 

the  real  meaning  of  love  until  now  ;  it  is 
the  embodied  spirit  of  Christmas  in  my 
soul!" 

Dorris  rose  abruptly.  "  I'm  going  out," 
she  exclaimed.  "  The  atmosphere  of  this 
nursery  is  stifling." 

"What  makes  her  so  low  in  her  spirits 
to-day,"  asked  Leigh,  when  the  door  had 
closed  behind  her.  "  Has  she  seen  the 
announcement  in  the  paper?" 

"  I  haven't  seen  it  myself — tell  me 
about  it." 

"  Why,  Allan  Kip  has  inherited  a  for 
tune  from  his  uncle  in  England — a  gay 
old  batchelor,  who  has  just  died.  No  one 
knew  he  stood  in  for  such  luck.  He 
posed  as  a  poor  genius,  you  know.  He 
intends  to  leave  this  country  for  good, 
now." 

The  young  mother's  face  clouded.  "  If 
that  is  so,  Dorris  will  never  win  him 
back,  I  fear!  I  so  hoped  he  would  for 
give  her.  She  really  loves  him,  poor 
child!" 

"She  was  a  little  fool  to  act  as  she  did," 


A  SEARCH  FOR  SENSATIONS.         105 

he  replied,  with  masculine  lack  of  sym 
pathy,  and  then  the  baby  awoke  and  all 
other  interests  were  forgotten  in  coaxing 
her  ladyship  to  smile. 

Two  days  later  Dorris  brought  a  letter 
to  her  sister. 

"Read  it,"  she  said,  turning  away  her 
face. 

"  But  1 — I  would  rather  not,"  answered 
the  other,  seeing  it  was  addressed  to 
Allan  Kip. 

"  You  must !  I  can't  keep  silence  any 
longer.  I  shall  die  if  he  goes  away  for 
ever,  as  they  say  he  is  going  to  do  !  Oh, 
Sissy!  I  know  now  what  love  is!  At 
last  I  have  found  my  soul !  Read  my 
letter,  and  tell  me  if  I  have  written  what 
will  most  surely  let  him  see  all  that  is  in 
my  heart  for  him.  I  don't  know  what  I 
have  said,  my  brain  is  on  fire,  help  me!" 

She  turned  away  and  her  sister  opened 
the  letter.  Her  lashes  were  heavy  with 
tears  as  she  read  its  contents  and  re 
turned  it  to  Dorris. 

"  If  he  were  a  woman,  he  would  come 


IO6  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 

back  to  you,  my  darling,"  she  said,  an 
swering  the  question  in  the  eyes  raised 
to  her's.  "  But  forgiveness  is  not  part  of 
a  man's  love.  They  do  not  understand 
as  we  do." 

The  day  seemed  endless  after  the  letter 
was  sent.  Luncheon  was  a  silent  meal, 
and  Dorris  spent  the  afternoon  in  listen 
ing  for  the  door-bell.  She  wandered  into 
the  nursery  as  the  twilight  fell  and  sat 
watching  her  sister,  rocking  to  and  fro, 
singing  a  low  lullaby  to  the  child  in  her 
arms. 

"  I  wish  I  was  your  baby,  Sissy,"  she 
murmured.  "  I  feel  so  tired  and  I  think 
it  would  rest  me  to  have  you  rock  and 
sing  to  me  like  that." 

Mrs.  Kurt  was  about  to  answer,  when 
the  door  opened  and  a  maid  brought  a 
note  to  Dorris.  The  small  fingers  trem 
bled  so  that  they  could  scarcely  open  the 
envelope,  but  the  few  words  were  read 
in  one  swift  glance. 

"My  newly  acquired  fortune  does  not 
remove  the  obstacle  to  our  marriage. 


A  SEARCH  FOR  SENSATIONS.         107 

Love,  void  of  respect,  must  prove  unsat 
isfying.  Heave  for  England  to-night." 

Slowly  the  paper  fluttered  to  the 
ground. 

"Oh,  Dorris,  darling!  What  has  he 
said?" 

Laying  the  sleeping  baby  in  its  crib,  she 
ran  to  her  sister's  side,  but  the  white  face 
smiled  at  her  in  a  way  that  checked  her 
words. 

"Read  it!"  answered  a  voice  that 
sounded  like  the  wind  from  ice-bound 
seas. 

She  picked  up  the  fallen  sheet  and 
read  the  brief  note,  then  flung  her  arms 
about  the  rigid  form. 

"Oh,  my  poor  little  sister,  it  is  as  I 
said,  men  can  not  forgive!" 

Young  Mrs.  Dryden  drew  herself 
away  from  the  clinging  embrace. 

"No!"  the  new  note  in  her  voice 
startled  her  sister,  and  she  laughed  in  a 
way  that  brought  tears  into  Mrs.  Kurt's 
eyes. 

"As  a   new  sensation,  though,  this   is 


108  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 

positively  invaluable — it's  a  climax!"  she 
continued  as  she  moved  across  the  room, 
her  head  held  very  high  and  a  haughty 
smile  curving  her  lips.  "I  am  like  the 
man  in  Grimm's  fairy  tale,  who  wanted 
to  learn  to  'shiver.'  At  last  I  have 
learned  what  a  real  sensation  is  like.  My 
wish  has  been  granted  and  I  am  quite 
satisfied!  Aren't  you  glad,  Sissy?  lam! 

So  glad  that " 

The  proud  head  drooped  suddenly  and 
Mrs.  Kurt  sprang  forward  just  in  time  to 
save  her  sister  from  falling  heavily  to  the 
floor. 


A  SEARCH  FOR  SENSATIONS.         109 


CHAPTER   XVII. 


Time  is  a  master  artist. 

Dipping  his  fateful  finger  into  the  well 
of  experience,  he  traces  upon  human 
hearts,  strange  images,  unguessed  possi 
bilities. 

Five  years  had  changed  young  Mrs. 
Dryden  and  to-night,  as  she  sat  playing 
dreamy  lullabies  to  the  drowsy  child  on 
her  sister's  knee,  she  made  a  sweet  pic 
ture  of  womanhood,  full  of  that  subtle 
tenderness  which  crowns  all  true  women 
with  a  halo  of  sacred  beauty. 

"This  paper  has  devoted  one  entire 
column  to  praises  of  you  and  your  many 
charities,  Dorris." 

Leigh  glanced  up  at  her  and  smiled. 
"They  can't  say  enough  of  your  generos 
ity!" 

She  turned  from  the  piano  and   joined 


IIO  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 

the  group  about  the  table,  pausing  beside 
her  sister's  chair  to  stroke  the  child's 
curls. 

"  Don't  you  think  that  happiness  some 
times  makes  people  selfish?"  she  asked. 
"  In  the  old  days,  I  never  used  to  think 
about  any  one  but  myself,  but  now  I 
want  to  relieve  all  the  suffering  I  see.  I 
can't  bear  to  think  there  is  any  one  else 
in  the  world  who  is  as  heavy  hearted  as  I 
am!" 

Leigh  rattled  the  paper  briskly — men 
are  fearful  of  tears  in  a  woman's  voice — 
but  Louise  looked  up  into  her  sister's  face 
with  a  fond  smile. 

"Every  cloud  has  its  silver  lining,  dar 
ling,  and  so  will  yours,  some  day." 

Dorris  shook  her  head.  "He  will  never 
come  back  to  me.  Never!  " 

A  smothered  exclamation  from  Leigh 
drew  their  attention. 

"What  is  it?"  asked  his  wife. 

"Nothing,  nothing!"  he  answered, 
turning  the  paper  hastily,  but  not  before 
Dorris  had  caught  sight  of  the  glaring 


A  SEARCH  FOR  SENSATIONS.        Ill 

headlines  "Lost!  A  Fortune!  Strange 
history  of  the  well-known  artist,  Allan 
Kip!" 

Her  face  grew  white.  "Oh,  read  it, 
quick!"  she  cried. 

Leigh  turned  back  to  the  page  with 
muttered  misgivings. 

"'Truth  is  stranger  than  fiction,' as 
we  all  know,"  the  article  began,  "and 
this  old  saying  is  once  more  proven  cor 
rect  by  the  events  which  have  transpired 
in  the  life  of  one  of  our  leading  artists, 
Mr.  Allan  Kip. 

"  Being  a  true  lover  of  his  art,  he  dis 
dained  the  aid  of  his  uncle's  money,  and 
worked  his  way  to  fame  on  the  merits  of 
his  genius  alone. 

"  Even  his  intimate  friends  supposed 
him  to  be  penniless,  with  no  expectations 
of  a  material  nature,  until,  through  his 
uncle's  death,  he  fell  heir  to  vast  wealth, 
five  years  ago. 

"He  made  good  use  of  his  great  fortune 
in  many  ways  and  he  now  stands  an 
acknowledged  artist  of  the  greatest 


112  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 

genius,  his  fame  undisputed  by  even  the 
most  severe  critics.  Suddenly,  however, 
in  the  midst  of  his  prosperity  comes  a 
most  unforeseen  calamity  of  rather  a  sen 
sational  nature." 

Leigh  paused,  glancing  nervously  at 
Dorris,  who  leaned  against  his  chair, 
with  eyes  full  of  dread. 

"Go  on;  I  can  bear  it!"  she  whis 
pered. 

"  It  seems  that  the  uncle  whose  fortune 
Mr.  Kip  inherited,  had  led  a  roving 
life,  spending  his  youth  in  reckless  dissi 
pation.  Under  the  influence  of  drink, 
he  had  married  a  woman  of  equally  dis 
reputable  habits;  deserting  her  as  soon  as 
reason  returned  to  him  and  never  seeing 
her  afterwards.  Now,  however,  the  son 
of  that  mad  union  appears  to  claim  the 
property,  as  its  legitimate  heir,  bearing 
with  him  papers  that  prove  the  dead  man 
to  be  his  lawful  father. 

"As  Mr.  Kip  fell  heir  to  the  estate 
simply  through  being  the  next  in  succes 
sion  and  not  by  will,  this  robs  him  of 


A  SEARCH  FOR  SENSATIONS.        113 

wealth,  and  casts  him  upon  the  world 
with  only  his  fame  as  his  fortune  once 
more. 

"  We  regret  his  loss,  but  learn  we 
are  to  be  congratulated  as  a  people, 
inasmuch  as  he  has  been  forced  to  accept 
the  work  of  painting  the  pictures  for  the 
new  Cathedral,  and  will  therefore  make 
his  home  in  this  city  for  some  time  to 
come." 

No  one  spoke  as  Leigh  stopped  read 
ing.  He  pretended  to  be  absorbed  in  the 
stock  report,  and  Louise  kept  her  head 
bent  low  over  her  child's  sleeping  form. 

Dorris  stole  to  her  side,  pressing  a  tear- 
wet  face  against  her  cheek.  "  Sissy," 
she  whispered,  tremulously,  "If  he 
comes  home,  I  am  going  to  him." 


114  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 


An  air  of  artistic  harmony  hung  about 
the  studio. 

Rugs,  draperies,  statuary,  paintings — 
all  formed  a  whole  that  rested  the  eye 
and  soothed  the  senses. 

At  an  easel  in  the  center  of  the  room, 
sat  a  tall,  broad-shouldered  man.  His 
brown  velvet  coat  showed  dabs  of  paint 
here  and  there,  and  a  long  pipe  occa 
sionally  sent  forth  blue  clouds  of  smoke, 
which  hung  about  his  handsome  head  like 
some  mystic  halo.  An  irritable  frown 
creased  his  forehead  and  he  tossed  his 
brushes  aside  with  an  impatient  sigh. 

"  I  can't  keep  my  thoughts  upon  my 
work  !"  he  muttered.  "  The  very  air  of 
this  place  is  filled  with  the  memory  of 
her.  These  sea  breezes  seem  to  bear  to 
me  the  perfume  of  her  hair ;  the  chimes 


A  SEARCH  FOR  SENSATIONS.         115 

of  the  old  Cathedral  sound  like  the  music 
of  her  laugh.  Fool !  Shall  I  never  be 
able  to  forget  her  empty  loveliness?" 

He  threw  himself  wearily  upon  the 
couch,  surrendering  his  thoughts  to  the 
haunting  memories,  until  his  eyes  grew 
tender,  and  his  lips  softened  into  a  dreamy 
smile, 

A  knock  sounded,  but  he  did  not  hear 
it,  and  then  the  door  was  pushed  timidly 
open,  and  a  slender  woman's  figure 
stood  hesitatingly  on  the  threshold. 

Her  eyes  drew  his  gaze  by  the  inten 
sity  of  their  regard. 

With  a  smothered  cry  he  sprang  to 
his  feet.  "  Tbu/"  he  whispered,  breath 
lessly. 

He  went  towards  her  slowly,  as  if 
doubting  the  evidence  of  his  senses,  and 
she  stood  waiting  for  him  with  piteous 
face  raised  pleadingly. 

He  came  close ;  he  touched  her  arm, 
and  then  the  softened  love-look  fled  from 
his  eyes. 

"  What    is    it  you    want    here?"     he 


Il6  SOCIETY   SILHOUETTES. 

asked,  harshly.  "  Have  you  come  to 
patronize  the  poor  artist?" 

She  clasped  her  hands  nervously  and 
her  lips  trembled  as  she  opened  them  to 
speak. 

"  I  have  come  to — to— oh,  Allan!  I 
couldn't  stay  away.  I  longed  so  to  see 
you  again !" 

A  hot  flush  surged  over  his  face ;  he 
moved  nearer  her  impulsively.  "Dorris  !" 
he  whispered.  "  Dorris !  Dorris !  Do 
you  love  me?" 

She  put  out  both  hands  to  him.  "  Oh, 
yes  !  yes  !"  she  sobbed.  "  Take  me  back 
into  your  heart  again,  Allan — take  me 
back!" 

He  caught  her  in  his  arms  with  an  in 
articulate  cry  of  joy,  and  the  weary  past 
was  blotted  out  forever. 

An  hour  later,  as  they  drove  home 
ward  in  her  carriage,  he  turned  to  her 
with  sudden  misgivings  in  his  eyes. 

"  But,  Dorris  !"  he  exclaimed,  "have 
you  forgotten  ?  I  have  lost  my  fortune 
now.  I  am  only  a  poor  artist,  who  earns 


A  SEARCH  FOR  SENSATIONS.        Iiy 

his  daily  bread  by  the  labor  of  his  brain. 
We  will  be  poor,  child.  Oh,  have  you 
forgotten  that?" 

"Don't!"  she  whispered,  creeping 
closer  to  his  side,  with  down-cast  eyes 
and  tear- wet  lashes.  "  Don't  remind  me 
of  what  I  used  to  be — it  is  too  dreadful. 
Love  has  given  me  a  soul,  and  pain  has 
taught  me  joy!" 


Il8  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 


THE  SENATOR'S  WOOING. 

|T  was  long  past  midnight,  and  the 
ball  was  drawing  to  an  end. 
Society's  buds  were  looking 
wilted,  and  chaperones  began  to  nod  like 
full  blown  roses,  whose  petals  might 
drop  and  scatter  at  a  touch  of  time.  It 
had  been  a  cosmopolitan  affair,  as  every 
thing  must  be  in  Washington,  but  decid 
edly  chic.  Foreign  Ambassadors  adorned 
the  rooms  like  bric-a-brac,  while  many  a 
literary  and  artistic  lion  shed  the  light  of 
genius  upon  less  gifted  fellows.  The 
hostess  drew  a  sigh  of  mingled  weariness 
and  content  as  her  eyes  dwelt  upon  the 
scene  before  her.  It  had  been  a  success, 
she  told  herself,  and  an  expression  of  sat 
isfaction  rested  upon  her  face. 

"Must  you  go  so  soon?"  she  asked,  as 
Senator  Calvin  and  Miss  Thurston  ap- 


THE  SENATOR'S  WOOING.         119 

preached  her — for  it  had  been  not  the 
least  of  her  triumph  to  receive  these  two 
leaders  of  the  social  and  Senatorial  cir 
cles,  and  as  she  bade  them  adieu,  she  voiced 
to  herself  again  the  question  which  so 
ciety  had  asked  itself  many  times.  But 
that  which  society  asks  itself,  often  gets 
for  its  answer  only  a  larger  question 
back.  Meantime  the  principal  actors 
enjoyed  themselves  quite  unconscious  of 
the  perplexities  they  occasioned. 

"  Are  you  cold?"  asked  the  Senator,  as 
he  drew  the  cloak  about  his  companion, 
and  noticed  her  shiver  slightly. 

"  Yes,"  she  answered,  with  a  laugh, 
"  I  am  not  accustomed  to  'lobbying,'  you 
know.  I  wish  my  carriage  would  come." 

"  It  will  be  called  in  a  moment ;  come 
back  into  the  hall  and  wait,"  said  the 
Senator,  adding  in  a  tone  approaching 
solicitude,  "  I  hope  you  have  not  taken 
cold." 

The  evident  tenderness  of  the  Senator's 
manner  brought  a  flush  to  Miss  Thurs- 
ton's  cheek,  and  she  raised  her  eyes  to  his 


I2O  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 

with  an  expression  which  confused  him, 
for  he  was  not  used  to  the  ways  of 
women  ;  he  considered  them  incompre 
hensible.  There  was  a  slight  pause  while 
he  drew  her  into  a  sheltered  nook,  and 
then  he  said  in  his  usual  tone  : 

"  I  am  coming  to  see  you  soon,  to  dis 
cuss  the  new  bill  before  the  Senate.  I 
want  your  judgment  on, — what's  the 
matter?"  he  interrupted  himself,  as  he 
noticed  the  quizzical  expression  on  his 
companion's  face.  She  shrugged  her 
shoulders,  half  laughing.  "  How  long 
have  I  been  giving  you  the  result  of  my 
woman's  instinct,  and  helping  you  out 
of  those  stupid  political  tangles,  in  direct 
opposition  to  your  constitution,  which 
forbids  women  to  meddle  ?" 

The  Senator's  face  brightened  with  a 
sudden  smile  as  he  answered,  "  I  could 
never  pay  you  all  I  owe" 

"  What,  going?"  exclaimed  a  bright 
voice,  and,  with  a  start,  they  turned  to 
see  a  gay  little  woman  tripping  across 
the  hallway  toward  them.  "  Sensible 


THE  SENATOR'S  WOOING.         121 

girl!  I  wish  I  could  do  likewise,"  she 
runs  on.  "  But  Edward  has  been  glued 
to  the  whist  table  since  10  o'clock,  and  I 
suppose  he  will  stick  there  until  the  oth 
ers  are  sent  for  by  their  wives,  when  he 
will  wake  to  the  realization  of  his  duty 
to  me  !" 

Mary  Thurston  laughed  amusedly. 

"You  are  always  such  a  martyr,  Jean, 
my  dear,"  she  said,  adding  over  her 
shoulder,  as  she  was  led  away,  "  shall  I 
see  you  at  the  woman's  meeting  to-morrow 
morning?" 

The  little  woman  shrugged  her  shoul 
ders.  "  If  I  get  away  from  here  by  that 
time,  yes,"  she  answered,  and  stood 
watching  them  as  they  disappeared  in 
the  darkness  beyond. 

"  I  wonder  if  he  did  it  to-night,"  she 
said  to  herself.  "  If  he  didn't — well,  he 
just  doesn't  deserve  to  get  her,  that's  all  !" 

"May  I  have  this  dance?"  asked  a 
voice  at  her  side. 

"  Thank  you,  but  I  am  engaged  to  Sen 
ator  Calvin,"  she  answered,  as  she  saw 


122  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 

that  genlteman's  tall  form  advancing, 
with  snow  powdered  hair.  "  You  came 
just  in  time  to  save  me,"  she  exclaimed, 
as  he  drew  her  arm  through  his.  "  That 
odious  little  Cottrel  asked  me  for  this 
number,  and  I  told  him  it  was  yours." 

"  Then  we  will  have  to  take  a  turn  or 
two  for  his  benefit,  I  suppose,"  answered 
the  Senator,  and  they  joined  the  rythm 
of  the  moving  forms. 

"Tell  me,"  the  vivacious  voice  broke 
forth  again,  "  did  you  do  it  to-night?" 

The  Senator  smiled  covertly.  "  Do 
what?"  he  asked,  in  a  non-committal 
tone. 

"  You  know  very  well !"  answered 
Mrs.  Bellaire  impatiently,  "  and  just  let 
me  tell  you,  Mr.  Senator,  if  you  don't 
ask  Mary  Thurston  to  be  your  wife  pretty 
soon,  some  luckier  man  will  get  her.  She 
won't  wait  forever  for  you." 

No  response  being  made  to  this  out 
burst,  the  little  lady  stopped  abruptly, 
disengaging  herself  from  his  arm. 


THE  SENATOR'S  WOOING.         123 

"  Don't  you  want  to  marry  her?"  she 
demanded. 

"  I  suppose  I  do,"  he  replied,  with  a 
serious  deliberateness.  "  I  should  be 
deeply  chagrined  if  I  did  not,  but  there 
is  plenty  of  time." 

"  O  !"  ejaculated  Mrs.  Bellaire,  "  if 
that  isn't  just  like  a  man !  Here  you 
have  been  showering  devotion  on  Mary 
for  over  two  seasons,  making  every  one 
wonder  and  talk,  and  yet  never  giving 
her  a  chance  to  say  yes  or  no.  Now  you 
know  I  love  you  both  better  than  any 
one  else  in  the  world— excepting  Edward, 
perhaps,"  she  interpolated  with  a  comi 
cal  little  grimace,  "  and  the  dearest  wish 
of  my  heart  is  to  see  you  two  married,  but 
I  am  losing  all  patience  with  you,  and  I 
have  half  a  mind  to  encourage  Mary's 
liking  for  that  charming  German,  who 
is  so  deadly  in  love  with  her." 

Senator  Calvin  looked  gravely  startled. 
"  Von  Blon  !"  he  exclaimed.  "  Does  she 
really  fancy  him  ?" 

Mrs.  Bellaire's  eyes   brightened    with 


124  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 

a  sudden  smile,  which  she  hid  behind 
drooped  lashes.  "  Fancy  him?  Hardly  ! 
It  is  more  serious  than  that ;  he  is  so  en 
tirely  charming,  and  makes  such  an  ideal 
lover,"  and  there  is  a  telling  pause,  while 
the  music  floats  about  them  and  mingles 
with  the  soft  splash  of  a  fountain  in  the 
conservatory  beyond. 

Mrs.  Bellaire  stole  a  quick  look  into 
the  face  above  her,  and  a  dimple  ap 
peared  as  she  said  suggestively,  "  He 
hasn't  proposed  to  her  yet,  but  he  is  only 
waiting  his  opportunity,  and  when  that 
comes  I  pity  your  chances!" 

Senator  Calvin  looked  decidedly  per 
turbed  and  was  about  to  answer  when  a 
cheery  voice  at  their  side  exclaimed, 
"  Well,  well,  my  dear,  I  have  been  look 
ing  for  you  every  where  ;  aren't  you  ready 
to  go  home  yet?" 

Mrs.  Bellaire  laughed.  "  Edward," 
she  said,  "you  ought  to  have  been  a 
woman,  you  have  such  a  trick  of  always 
pretending  to  be  in  the  right.  Now  what 


THE  SENATOR'S  WOOING.         125 

was  it  made  you  remember  me  at  the 
eleventh  hour?" 

"  Stebbins'  wife  sent  for  him,"  con 
fessed  the  Major,  and  wondered  why  his 
wife  laughed  as  she  disappeared  for  her 
wraps. 

"  I  think  I  will  go,  too,"  Senator 
Calvin  said,  as  they  waited  together 
until  Mrs.  Bellaire  returned,  cloaked  and 
hooded.  As  she  bade  him  good  night  she 
whispered  impressively,  "Remember, 
there  is  no  time  to  lose,  for  once  you 
must  forget  the  statesman  in  the  lover  !" 

"  My  dear,"  remarked  the  Major,  as 
they  rolled  off  into  the  night,  "  when 
will  you  stop  match-making?  It  is  dan 
gerous  business." 

"  Nonsense  !"  answered  his  wife,  blithe 
ly ,  "  Tom  Calvin  is  as  deeply  in  love  with 
Mary  as  she  is  with  him,  but  he  is  such  a 
dear  old  stupid  and  so  absorbed  in  silly 
politics  that  he  has  just  neglected  to  pro 
pose.  He  thinks  women  and  love  will 
wait !  I  am  his  good  angel,  and  if  it  were 
not  for  me  he  would  let  it  go  until  he 


126  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 

really    did   lose   the    dearest   girl  in  the 
world." 

Her  husband  laughed,  then  yawned. 
"  Ah,  well,  there  is  nothing  so  satisfying 
as  duplicate  whist,"  he  observed,  drows 
ily,  and  settled  himself  for  a  nap  in  his 
corner. 


THE  SENATOR'S  WOOING.         127 


CHAPTER  II. 


Meanwhile,  the  Senator  walked  back 
to  his  rooms  with  a  very  thoughtful  ex 
pression.  He  had  loved  Mary  Thurston 
for  months,  and  yet,  so  absorbed  had  he 
been,  that  time  had  slipped  past  without 
his  finding  space  to  win  her  in.  She 
seemed  to  belong  to  him  by  right  of  their 
perfect  sympathy,  and  when  he  met  her, 
he  spent  the  time  in  relieving  his  over 
burdened  mind,  trusting  to  her  clear 
judgment  and  unerring  womanly  in 
stinct  to  lead  him  out  of  many  a  political 
tangle.  To  lose  all  this  would  be  an  im- 
comparable  grief  to  him.  He  must  make 
her  his  before  that  German  meddler  won 
her  from  him.  But  how  ?  To-morrow 
was  full  of  important  meetings  ;  this  was 
a  critical  time  with  little  chance  for  free 
dom.  Besides,  he  remembered  Mary 


128  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 

was  to  be  engaged  at  the  woman's  meet 
ing.  There  was  nothing  for  it  then  but 
to  send  her  a  note,  and,  drawing  to  him 
pen  and  paper,  he  began  to  write.  How 
weakly  sentimental  the  words  looked  on 
paper!  The  Senator  tossed  the  sheet  into 
the  fire,  and  in  his  solitude  he  blushed. 
After  all  what  were  a  few  days?  She 
was  not  likely,  he  assured  himself,  to  see 
Von  Blon  in  that  short  time,  and  as  soon 
as  the  most  important  bill,  which  was 
engaging  the  entire  attention  of  one  of 
his  committees,  had  passed,  he  would  go 
in  a  sensible  way  and  ask  her  to  be  his 
wife.  Having  thus  disposed  of  the  ques 
tion  he  settled  back  upon  the  universal 
solace  of  perturbed  mankind,  and  as  he 
blew  soft  clouds  of  smoke  into  the  air,  he 
sought  with  all  earnestness  to  frame  the 
argument  upon  which  the  success  of  the 
Revenue  bill  would  so  much  depend.  He 
thought  much  of  statistics  and  some  of 
logic,  and — saw  many  visions  of  a  beauti 
ful  face  and  a  most  inconsequential  Ger 
man. 


THE  SENATOR'S  WOOING.         129 

The  following  days  were  filled  with 
excitement  in  the  Senate.  The  crisis  of 
the  fight  on  the  Revenue  bill  approached, 
and  those  newer  complications  which 
have  come  into  modern  politics  rendered 
that  which  was  once  a  perfunctory  con 
test,  on  purely  party  lines,  an  exciting 
fight  in  which  every  inch  of  winning 
ground  was  opened  to  the  strategy  of 
both  sides. 

Senator  Calvin,  in  the  midst  of  the 
great  fight,  became  utterly  absorbed  in 
the  fascinating  struggle,  and  love,  be 
coming  frightened,  shrank  out  of  sight. 

A  week  went  by  and  what  tricks  Cupid 
might  have  played  it  is  hard  to  tell,  but 
Cupid  is  not  so  black  as  he  is  often 
painted.  And  one  day  when  matters  in  the 
Senate  were  nearing  a  climax,  and  every 
thing  going  against  the  Senator's  party, 
Cupid  played  a  trump  card.  Senator  Cal 
vin,  being  unable  to  endure  the  strain  in 
quiet,  at  last  left  the  Chamber  to  walk 
off  a  little  of  his  suppressed  excitement 
in  the  corridors  outside,  and  there  ran 


130  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 

against  Mrs.  Bellaire  and  MaryThurston 
on  their  way  to  the  ladies'  gallery. 

"Oh  Senator!"  exclaimed  Mrs.  Bel 
laire,  darting  up  to  him,  "we  have  come 
to  hear  your  speech.  I  just  couldn't  stay 
at  home,  so  I  made  Mary  come  with  me. 
Are  we  not  in  time  ?  You  look  so  fagged  ! 
What's  the  matter,  anyway?" 

He  laughed  nervously.  "It's  a  clear 
case  of  narrow  rationalism,"  he  answered, 
with  scarcely  repressed  irritation.  "They 
simply  won't  believe  what  they  can't  see 
right  under  their  very  noses  !" 

Mrs.  Bellaire  smiled;  "That  is  a  fail 
ing  of  men,  especially  in  politics,  I  have 
observed,"  and  then  she  settled  herself  to 
listen  to  what  was  going  on. 

As  the  Senator  dropped  into  a  seat  be 
side  Miss  Thurston,  she  turned  to  him 
with  a  look  that  was  in  itself  a  sedative. 
"You  are  nervous,"  she  said. 

He  drew  his  hand  wearily  across  his 
forehead.  "It  has  been  a  hard  day." 

She  bent  impulsively  toward  him  for 
an  instant,  and  then,  biting  her  lip, 


THE  SENATOR'S  WOOING.         131 

leaned  back  in  her  seat,  fastening  her  at 
tention  upon  the  Senator  from  Georgia, 
whose  ringing  voice  was  so  eloquently 
holding  the  attention  of  the  Senate  upon 
the  side  of  the  question  to  which  Senator 
Calvin  was  opposed,  and  the  color  came 
and  went  upon  her  cheek,  as  suppressed 
waves  of  excitement  told  of  the  keen  inter 
est  she  felt  in  the  outcome  of  the  contest. 
As  the  orator  drew  to  ward  the  close  of  his 
argument,  she  turned  with  ill-concealed 
anxiety  to  the  man  beside  her,  "Your 
speech  comes  next,  doesn't  it?" 

"Yes,"  he  replied  wearily,  "I  wish  it 
were  well  over.  There  is  so  much  at 
stake,  and  to  tell  the  truth,"  he  said, 
dropping  into  a  confidential  tone,  "the 
odds  are  much  against  us." 

"Odds  are  nothing,"  said  Mary,  and 
her  glance  now  was  more  of  a  stimulant 
than  a  sedative,  for  the  glances  of  women 
are  but  the  rays  of  soul  which  no  spectro 
scope  has  ever  analyzed,  and  no  prism  has 
ever  subjugated.  "Odds,"  she  contin 
ued,  "are  but  the  atmosphere  in  which 


132  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 

real  effort  best  thrives.  If  you  went  upon 
the  floor  of  the  Chamber  in  serene  confi 
dence,  you  would  feel  no  necessity  for 
effort.  But  to-day,  feeling  the  sweep  of 
the  current  so  strong  against  you,  you 
must  rise  to  your  highest  effort,  and  you 
will  win  !  Remember,"  she  continued 
archly,  "I  am  here  and  I  must  not  see 
you,  my  friend,  encompassed  by  defeat !" 

Before  he  had  time  to  reply,  a  page 
handed  him  a  peremptory  note  from  a 
colleague,  calling  him  to  the  floor  of  the 
Senate  to  take  his  place  in  the  ranks. 
And  so  it  happened  that,  as  he  stepped 
into  the  midst  of  the  fray,  it  was  not 
with  the  load  of  his  eloquent  opponent 
upon  his  mind,  but  rather  with  that  firm 
confidence  of  victory  which  had  been 
borne  of  the  encouragement  and  hope 
held  out  by  Mary. 

For  two  hours  the  Senate  was  under 
the  spell  of  such  magnetic  oratory  as  it 
had  not  had  during  that  session,  and  such 
as  had  never  before  come  from  the  lips 
of  Senator  Calvin.  Limb  from  limb, 


THE  SENATOR'S  WOOING.         133 

and  joint  from  joint,  he  tore  apart  the 
structure  his  opponent  had  reared,  and 
step  by  step  he  led  his  hearers  up  those 
stairs  of  logic,  which,  if  they  be  well 
built,  lead  to  but  one  conclusion,  and  to 
that  one  irresistibly.  And,  as  he  spoke, 
he  knew  that  he  was  winning,  and  each 
pulse  of  victory  through  his  veins  served 
but  to  add  the  certainty  of  directness  of 
the  sledge-hammer  blows  of  his  telling 
arguments.  As  he  took  his  seat,  his 
eyes  sought  the  ladies'  gallery  and  caught 
a  glance  from  Mary  Thurston  which 
glowed  with  delight,  while  Mrs.  Bellaire 
waved  her  handkerchief  at  him  in  de 
fiance  of  decorum.  He  watched  them  as 
they  left,  wishing  he  could  join  them, 
but  that  being  impossible,  contented  him 
self  by  remembering  that  he  would  meet 
Miss  Thurston  on  the  following  evening 
at  the  Dartforth  musicale. 


134  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 


CHAPTER  III. 


The  next  day  proved  to  be  one  of  those 
capricious  winter  days  that  unconsciously 
affect  us.  The  morning  was  bright  and 
clear,  but  at  noon  a  moody  gray  mist  fell 
upon  the  city  and  a  slight,  drizzling  rain 
set  in.  Senator  Calvin  was  feeling  the 
effects  of  the  nervous  strain  he  had  been 
under  during  the  past  two  weeks,  and 
Dame  Nature's  fickle  behavior  affected 
him  disagreeably.  He  called  on  Miss 
Thurston,  but  she  was  out, — and  he  won 
dered  why  she  should  go  out  in  such 
beastly  weather.  Later  he  dropped  in 
at  Mrs.  Bellaire's  and  had  the  good  for 
tune  to  find  that  little  lady  toasting  her 
pretty  toes  before  a  glowing  fire.  She 
was  full  of  congratulations  and  delight, 
and  overwhelmed  him  with  praises  and 
compliments.  At  last  she  exclaimed : 


THE  SENATOR'S  WOOING.         135 

"  But  I  wasn't  half  as  proud  of  you  as 
was  Mary.  I  never  saw  her  look  so 
pleased  over  anything  before ;  that  is, 
until  Von  Blon  joined  us  in  the  corridor 
and  then,  somehow,  he  spoiled  things!" 

The  Senator  frowned  into  the  fire. 
"  What  do  you  mean?"  he  asked. 

"  Well,"  continued  Mrs.  Bellaire, 
puckering  her  forehead.  "  he  said,  '  Yes, 
Calvin  did  very  well,  but  he  shows  his 
brains  only  in  the  Senate.  I  often  won 
der  where  he  keeps  his  wits  when  in 
society,'  and  Mary  just  bit  her  lip  and 
turned  away,  and  I  don't  know  whether 
she  did  it  to  conceal  a  smile,  or  an  angry 
answer.  Of  course  I  told  the  simpering 
man  that  you  saved  your  wits  for  those 
who  could  appreciate  them  !  He  just  said 
it  in  spite,  any  way,  you  know." 

The  Senator  rose  and  walked  restlessly 
about  the  room.  "Von  Blon  is  right," 
he  said  at  last,  rather  bitterly.  "  I  was 
never  intended  for  a  carpet  knight.  I 
am  absent-minded  and  preoccupied  and 
dull.  I  wish  he  had  not  said  it  though 


136  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 

before  Mary — I  mean  Miss  Thurston. 
And  she  smiled— No  ?  Tried  not  to  smile, 
then,  it's  the  same  thing.  See" — and  he 
paused  in  his  restless  walk  up  and  down. 
"  I  have  reached  the  zenith  of  power.  I 
rule  men,  I  sway  a  nation,  and  yet  I 
have  not  that  grace  of  manner,  that 
charm  of  speech  which  alone  pleases  a 
woman,  even  the  wisest  of  them.  What 
a  parody  is  Life,  after  all !  I  have 
worked  for  this  end  for  years  and,  now 
it  is  attained,  I  seem  to  care  nothing  for 
it.  I  would  exchange  all  my  honors  for 
that  easy  charm  Von  Blon  possesses — for 
the  power  to  make  Mary  Thurston  love 
me!" 

Mrs.  Bellaire  rose  and  laid  her  hand 
on  his  arm,  "  I  think  she  does  care  for 
you,"  she  said,  "but  tell  me,  why  are 
you  so  deeply  in  love  all  of  a  sudden  ;  is 
it  jealousy?" 

"Perhaps,"  admitted  the  Senator.  "  I 
always  felt  sure  of  her  before." 

Mrs.  Bellaire  smiled.  "  Let  no  man 
be  sure  of  any  woman,"  she  said,  oracu- 


THE  SENATOR'S  WOOING.         137 

larly,  adding  seriously :  "  If  you  want 
Mary  Thurston  to  be  your  wife,  you 
must  not  give  Von  Blon  any  more 
chances.  He  is  a  persistent  lover,  and 
women  too  often  yield  to  persistency, 
even  against  their  better  judgment." 

Senator  Calvin  took  the  small  jewelled 
fingers  in  his,  "I  shall  see  her  to-night," 
he  said  significantly,  with  a  look  of  de 
termination  in  his  eyes,  and  raising  the 
hand  he  held  to  his  lips,  he  left  the  room 
and  house. 


138  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 


CHAPTER   IV. 


Several  hours  later  found  him  in  the 
midst  of  a  brilliant  throng  of  society's 
music-loving  butterflies.  His  eyes  eag 
erly  sought  for  the  the  stately  form  he 
knew  so  well,  but  it  was  some  time 
before  he  caught  sight  of  her  in  the  music 
room,  apparently  quite  absorbed  in  some 
thing  Von  Blon  was  whispering  to  her 
under  cover  of  the  music.  He  tried  to 
reach  her  side,  but  had  to  pay  the  penalty 
of  greatness  by  having  his  progress  im 
peded  with  friends  and  acquaintances, 
who  insisted  upon  shaking  hands  and 
congratulating  him  upon  his  triumph. 

Perhaps,  Von  Blon  saw  his  slow  ap 
proach,  at  any  rate,  when  the  Senator  at 
last  shook  himself  free  from  his  followers, 
Miss  Thurston  was  no  where  to  be  seen, 
and  half  an  hour  later  he  had  a  vision  of 


THE  SENATOR'S  WOOING.         139 

Von  Blon's  fair  head  bending  over  her, 
as  he  piloted  her  to  her  carriage.  After 
this  there  was  nothing  more  to  keep  him, 
so  he  soon  made  his  adieu,  and  went 
home  to  his  lonely  rooms.  Never  before 
had  such  a  thing  as  this  occurred  !  Had 
Mary  seen  him,  and  wished  to  avoid 
him?  Was  she  beginning  to  resent  his 
cool  assumption  of  right  to  her,  or  did 
she  really  care  for  Von  Blon  ? 

These  and  similar  pleasant  thoughts, 
kept  him  tossing  sleeplessly  until  morn 
ing  dawned,  when  he  rose  unrefreshed. 
The  day  was  equally  uncomfortable.  He 
could  settle  to  nothing.  One  moment  he 
decided  to  write  her,  and  the  next  fell 
into  despair  at  the  thought  of  all  a  refusal 
would  mean  to  him. 

"What  a  farce  a  man  is,  with  all  his 
vaunted  power !"  he  said  to  himself. 
What  power  on  earth  can  compare  to 
that  a  woman  wields?  If  we  rule  the 
world,  they  rule  us !  It  is  a  delicious 
misery — this  Love!"  At  last  the  twilight 
fell  and  warned  him  it  was  time  to  dress 


140  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 

for  a  dinner  engagement  at  Senator 
Maxwell's.  He  was  almost  glad  of  the 
chance  to  escape  his  own  thoughts,  and, 
ten  minutes  before  the  dinner  hour,  en 
tered  the  Maxwell  drawing-room. 

Some  one  in  a  soft  gray  gown  stood 
talking  to  the  hostess,  and,  as  he  ap 
proached,  his  beating  heart  told  him  it 
was  Mary.  She  gave  him  her  hand  with 
her  usual  charming  frankness  and  allowed 
him  to  hold  it  a  trifle  longer  than  his 
wont,  as  she  told  him  how  glad  she  was 
over  his  victory  in  the  Senate. 

"  It  was  you  who  won  it,"  he  answered, 
bending  to  look  into  her  eyes,  and  adding 
in  a  low  voice,  "  it  was  the  inspiration  of 
your  words  which  carried  me  through, 
and  lean  only  hope " 

"Pardon,  my  dear  Senator,  but  Mrs. 
Maxwell  has  asked  me  to  take  Miss 
Thurston  out  to  dinner,"  said  a  voice 
at  his  side, and  Von  Blon  smilingly  offered 
his  arm  to  Miss  Thurston. 

For  a  moment  the  Senator  looked  un 
deniably  savage,  but  quickly  recovering 


THE  SENATOR'S  WOOING.         141 

himself,  bowed  and  stepped  back,  while 
Mrs.  Maxwell  assigned  him  to  an  elderly 
dowager,  and  they  followed  the  others 
out  to  the  flower-decked  table.  Mrs. 
Bellaire  was  his  vis-a-vis,  but  Mary  and 
the  German  were  at  the  other  end  of  the 
long  table.  Could  Fate  be  more  adverse  ? 
What  could  give  Von  Blon  a  better  op 
portunity  than  the  long  tete-a-tete  of  a 
course  dinner?  Of  course  he  would  pro 
pose. 

Senator  Calvin  groaned  inwardly. 
Why  had  he  played  this  fool's  part  of 
procrastination?  What  fiend  of  com 
plaisance  had  possessed  him  all  these 
months?  His  eyes  met  those  of  Mrs. 
Bellaire  across  the  table,  and  she  drew  a 
long  face— glancing  significantly  down 
to  where  Von  Blon  bent  over  his  com 
panion.  The  German  was  not  touch 
ing  his  food,  but  kept  his  eyes  fast 
ened  on  his  companion's  half  averted 
face,  while  she  listened  to  his  words  with 
a  sweet  seriousness,  which  sent  the  blood 


142  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 

back  to  the  Senator's  heart  with  a  rush 
of  despair. 

The  laughter  and  chat  grew  dim  in 
his  ears,  and  a  great  bitterness  entered 
his  soul.  Of  what  use  was  his  brilliant 
future  if  Mary  did  not  share  it  with  him  ? 
He  was  overcome  with  a  sick  loathing 
for  this  ambition  which  had  robbed  him 
of  a  sweet  and  noble  wife.  Again  his 
glance  fell  upon  the  face  of  the  woman 
he  loved,  and  as  he  gazes,  a  sudden  blush 
tinges  her  cheek.  The  sight  maddens 
the  Senator!  Is  he  to  lose  her  before  his 
very  eyes  ? 

"Now  or  never!"  he  muttered  to  him 
self  in  desperation,  and  taking  a  visiting 
card  from  his  pocket  wrote  feverishly, 
"Will  you  be  my  wife?"  signing  his 
initials. 

Beckoning  to  a  waiter,  he  thrust  the 
folded  missive  into  his  hand.  "  Do  you 
see  that  lady  in  grey,  with  the  diamond 
star  in  her  hair?"  he  asked. 

The   man's    glance    followed  his    and 


THE  SENATOR'S  WOOING.         143 

rested  upon  the  unconscious  Miss  Thurs- 
ton.  "  Yes,  sir,"  he  replied. 

"  I  want  you  to  give  her  this  note  and 
bring  me  back  her  answer,"  the  Senator 
said,  and  the  man  nodded  comprehend- 
ingly  as  he  started  on  his  errand. 

Anxiously  the  Senator's  eyes  followed 
him  till  he  stood  behind  Mary's  chair, 
and  quietly  slipped  the  note  into  her 
lap.  She  looked  surprised,  but  opened 
it  at  once  and  read  the  words  at  a  glance. 
Without  a  moment's  hesitation  she  turned 
her  head  and  threw  the  answer  over  her 
shoulder  to  the  waiting  messenger,  who 
turned  to  bring  back  the  reply. 

Not  a  glance  in  his  direction  !  Not  a 
moment's  hesitance  in  her  answer!  What 
could  that  mean  but  that  she  scorned  his 
long  delay  and  this  sudden  abruptness? 
He  had  lost  her  then,  while  Von  Blon  had 
won  the  sweetest  woman  in  the  world. 
And  it  was  all  his  own  fault — no  woman 
likes  such  things  to  be  taken  too  much 
for  granted,  yet  she  must  have  known  he 
loved  her,  though  he  had  not  said  so  in 


1^4  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 

plain  words  !  Well !  she  was  revenged 
upon  him  now — ah,  would  she  ever 
know  what  a  blow  it  was  to  lose  her? 
A  black  cloud  of  despair  engulfed  the 
future,  but  the  waiter's  hand  upon  his 
shoulder  roused  him. 

"  The  lady  said,  '  tell  the  gentleman  I 
say  yes,'  "  murmured  the  man's  voice  in   , 
his  ear,  and  Mrs.  Bellaire's  laugh  floated 
to  him  from  across  the  table. 


KEEPING  UP  APPEARANCES.         145 


KEEPING  UP  APPEARANCES. 


OU can't  go,  Helen,  you  haven't 
a  decent  gown  to  your  name!" 
"But  I  must,  mother  !  Nell 
would  never  forgive  me  if  I  failed  her 
this  time,  and  what  could  I  do  if  she  cast 
me  off?  I  should  be  a  nobody  if  she 
wasn't  my  friend.  You  know  that!" 

"Well,  worse  things  could  happen  to 
you,  I'm  sure !  Her  friendship  brings 
you  small  pleasure  and  only  results  in 
your  being  a  slave  to  her  caprice.  I'm 
tired  of  it  all.  I  wish  you  were  content 
to  live  in  your  own  station  of  life,  and 
not  tag  on  to  the  skirts  of  the  rich  !" 

The  fretful  voice  ceased  as  a  heavy  step 
sounded  outside. 

"  What's  the  matter  now?"  exclaimed 
the  newcomer,  frowning  upon  them  from 
the  doorway. 


146  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 

"Mother  says  I  can't  go  to  Nell's  !" 

"Well,  what  of  that  !  Weren't  you 
abroad  with  her  all  winter?  Can't  you 
stay  at  home  and  help  your  mother  for  a 
month  or  two  without  whining,  I'd  like 
to  know  ?  I  want  this  noise  to  stop,  now  ! 
I  can't  write  when  you  two  women  are 
wailing  up  here  like  torn  cats  !" 

He  turned  upon  his  heel  and  went 
down  .stairs  again,  closing  his  study  door 
behind  him,  and  silence  once  more 
reigned. 

"There  !"  said  her  mother,  "I  told  you 
how  it  would  be." 

Helen  threw  herself  upon  the  bed. 
"Oh  !  I  hate  him,  and  this  ugly,  sordid 
life!"  she  cried,  bursting  into  tears. 

"You're  an  ungrateful  child,  that's 
what  you  are,"  cried  her  mother,  closing 
the  door  with  a  noisy  click  as  she  left 
the  room. 

Helen  sobbed  on  until  she  was  ex 
hausted,  and  then  lay  staring  at  the 
dingy  wall  paper.  The  cheap  little  clock 
annoyed  her  by  its  noisy  ticking.  How 


KEEPING  UP  APPEARANCES.         147 

different  it  was  from  the  dainty  French 
affairs  that  pointed  out  the  time  in  Nell's 
beautiful  home.  Helen  raised  herself, 
and  gazed  about  the  small  room  she 
called  her  own.  Very  bare  and  homely 
it  looked,  in  spite  of  her  efforts  to  make 
it  elegant  by  a  chintz  imitation  of 
Nell's  luxurious  boudoir.  She  caught  a 
reflection  of  her  face  in  the  opposite 
glass.  "Heavens !"  how  old  I  look !" 
she  cried,  and  the  tears  flowed  afresh. 

What  was  the  use  of  it  all,  anyway? 
Her  mother  was  right ;  Nell's  friendship 
gave  her  no  pleasure,  and  this  constant 
effort  to  keep  up  with  the  gay  people  in 
her  set  was  a  severe  strain,  with  no  really 
satisfying  results ;  and  yet,  could  she 
give  it  all  up — the  whirl  of  pleasures,  the 
excitement,  the  eclat  for  the  vulgar 
economy  of  a  dreary  life  in  this  so-called 
home?  No!  no!  a  thousand  times  no ! 

She  laughed  mirthlessly,  and,  rousing 
herself,  set  about  packing  her  trunk. 

"I'll  have  Nell's  maid  to  fix  up  this  old 
Swiss  muslin  with  some  cast-off  laces," 


148  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 

she  murmured  to  herself,  "and  there  is 
that  ball  gown  she  promised  me,  I  think 
I  can  tinker  that  up  all  right,  though  I 
suppose  everyone  will  see  it  is  a  cast-off 
dud !  They  know  I  am  only  a  sort  of 
Cinderella,  anyway,"  and  she  smiled 
bitterly  to  herself,  as  she  moved  about 
the  room. 

"This  hat  will  never  stand  another 
season  ;  I  must  fix  up  a  toque  of  some 
kind  to  help  out,"  she  sighed,  turning 
out  the  contents  of  a  box  of  scraps,  and 
putting  together  stray  bits  of  finery  with 
deft  fingers  that  soon  transformed  the 
odd  pieces  of  ribbon,  lace  and  velvet 
into  a  charming  Parisian  affair,  whose 
jaunty  dash  almost  restored  her  to  good 
humor.  "Practice  makes  perfect,"  she 
muttered,  "I  wonder  if  it  is  my  fate  to  be 
forever  shabby  genteel!" 

The  tea  bell  put  an  end  to  her  prepar 
ations,  but  she  went  down  stairs  with 
her  head  full  of  plans  for  furbishing  up 
her  scanty  wardrobe  through  the  help  of 
Nell's  French  maid. 


KEEPING  UP  APPEARANCES.         149 

The  twins  were  unusually  irrepressible 
that  night  and  their  boisterous  behavior 
kept  her  father  constantly  scolding, 
while  her  mother  fretted  in  her  continu 
ous,  nagging  way.  Two-year-old  Betty 
persisted  in  hammering  her  waiter  with 
a  spoon,  and  Helen's  nerves  were  further 
rasped  by  the  slip-shod  appearance  of 
the  maid. 

"You  needn't  sit  there  with  your  nose 
stuck  in  the  air  if  you  have  been  to  Europe 
with  Nell  Carlton!"  cried  one  of  the 
twins,  thereby  drawing  her  father's 
attention  to  her. 

"Have  you  been  helping  your  mother 
this  afternoon?"  he  asked. 

"No.  I  have  been  getting  ready  to 
go  to  Nell's  to-morrow." 

He  struck  the  table  with  his  fist.  "  I 
told  you  you  were  to  stay  at  home  and 
help  your  mother  !"  he  cried.  "  I'll  not 
have  you  gallivanting  round  like  a  lazy 
good-for-nothing.  Do  you  hear?" 

"  Yes,  I  hear,"  answered  the  girl. 


150  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 

"  And  I  intend  you  shall  obey!"  he 
cried,  angrily. 

She  shrugged  her  shoulders  and  rose  to 
leave  the  table. 

"Where  are  you  going?"  he  called 
after  her. 

' '  To  finish  my  packing ! ' '  she  answered, 
defiantly,  shutting  the  door  behind  her 
with  a  bang. 

He  sprang  from  his  seat,  as  if  to  follow 
her,  but  apparently  changed  his  mind. 
"Nice  daughter,  she  is!"  he  sneered. 
"Let  her  go,  I  say;  she's  too  devilish 
disagreeable  to  want  around,  any  way  !" 

And  up-stairs,  Helen  worked  far  into 
the  night,  over  her  preparations  for 
departure. 


KEEPING  UP  APPEARANCES. 


CHAPTER   II. 


"  Hello,  Helen,  that  you?" 

The  lazy  voice  proceeded  from  a  nest 
of  luxurious  pillows,  where  a  white- 
robed  figure  nestled.  A  maid  knelt  beside 
the  couch,  diligently  polishing  the  nails 
on  each  taper  finger. 

"  I  hardly  expected  so  prompt  a  reply  to 
my  telegram,"  the  sleepy  voice  con 
tinued  ;  "  but  I'm  glad  you  came  at  once. 
Dick  Dudley  is  here  and  I  want  to  keep 
him  all  to  myself,  you  know,  so  you  are 
to  make  yourself  useful  by  doing  the 
agreeable  to  a  friend  of  papa's  who  is 
staying  with  us." 

A  quick  flush  mounted  to  Helen's  cheek. 
"Of  course,  I  knew  you  had  something 
for  me  to  do,  or  you  wouldn't  have  asked 
me  down  !"  she  said. 

"  Of  course,"  assented  the  other. 
"  Adele,  don't  file  that  nail  so  close." 


152  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 

Helen  walked  restlessly  about  the  room. 

"  He,  the  one  you  are  to  relieve  me  of, 
is  really  very  jolly.  If  it  weren't  for 
Dick,  I  might  like  him  myself;  but,  of 
course,  I  care  more  for  Dick  than  I  could 
for  any  one  else,  and  it  was  most  incon 
siderate  of  papa  to  ask  Mr.  Nettleton 
down,  when  he  knows  Dick's  regiment 
is  ordered  out  in  a  month.  However,  I 
thought  of  you,  luckily,  and  now  you 
can  take  him  off  my  hands." 

Helen  bit  her  lips.  "  I'll  go  to  my 
room  now,"  was  all  she  said  as  she 
turned  away." 

What  right  had  Nell  to  treat  her  in 
this  way?  Had  they  not  been  play 
fellows  in  the  old  days,  before  Nell's 
father  had  made  his  money?  How  they 
had  loved  each  other  then,  too  !  The  hot 
tears  filled  her  eyes,  blinding  her  so  that 
she  did  not  see  the  man  who  stepped 
aside  to  let  her  pass  him  on  the  stairs. 

He  turned  and  gazed  after  her.  "Poor 
little  girl — heart-broken,  it  seems  ;  wonder 


KEEPING  UP  APPEARANCES.         153 

what  makes  her  cry?"  he  muttered  to 
himself,  as  he  went  upon  his  way. 

An  hour  later  he  led  a  self-possessed, 
conventional  girl  to  dinner,  and  won 
dered  if  this  was  his  "  maiden  all  for 
lorn."  "  Women  are  queer  creatures — 
actresses,  every  one  of  them,"  he  said 
within  himself,  as  he  watched  the  impas 
sive  face  beside  him. 

Dinner  was  a  heavy  affair.  Nell  and 
Dick  were  utterly  oblivious  of  everything 
but  themselves,  while  Mr.  Carlton  ap 
peared  worried  and  absent-minded,  talk 
ing  spasmodically,  as  if  only  at  intervals 
conscious  of  the  presence  of  the  others. 

After  several  fruitless  efforts  at  general 
conversation,  Nettleton  turned  to  his 
companion  with  a  faint  smile;  "Let's 
amuse  each  other,"  he  said,  in  a  low  tone. 

She  laughed.  "  Don't  you  think  our 
vis-a-vis  sufficiently  amusing?" 

He  glanced  at  the  two  opposite  and 
shook  his  head.  "Who  is  it  that  says, 
'  When  happiness  is  looked  at  through 
another  man's  eyes,  it  becomes  pain?"  ' 


154  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 

"  Do  you  call  that  happiness?"  she 
asked. 

"  Don't  you?" 

"No!  If  /  loved  a  man  I  should 
want  him  to  show  his  love  for  me  by 
becoming  something  I  could  be  proud  of. 
It  would  make  me  feel  like  a  goose  to  be 
gazed  at  in  that  fashion." 

"  Your  ideas  belong  to  the  good  old 
days  of  chivalry,  when  fair  women  sent 
their  knights  forth  to  do  great  deeds," 
he  said,  smiling  down  at  her.  "I  fear 
you  would  have  been  as  cruel  as  the 
heroine  in  '  The  Glove,'  whose  pride  out 
ran  her  love." 

"Oh,  but  it  didn't!"  cried  Helen. 
"  She  threw  her  glove  among  the  lions 
to  prove  the  sincerity  of  all  the  vows  De 
Lorge  had  sworn — not  to  show  her  power 
over  him." 

Nettleton  raised  his  eyebrows.  "  That 
is  a  new  version  of  the  poem — is  it  orig 
inal?" 

"  I  thought  it  was  until  I  read  Robert 
Browning's  poem,  which  shows  he  had 


KEEPING  UP  APPEARANCES.         155 

the  same  conception  of  the  incident.  I 
was  glad  he  vindicated  her  character,  for 
she  is  a  favorite  heroine  of  mine.  She 
has  always  been  so  misunderstood." 

"Is  that  the  key  to  your  sympathy?" 
he  asked. 

She  nodded. 

"Why?" 

She  rose,  as  she  saw  Nell  preparing  to 
leave  the  men  to  their  cigars.  "  We  can 
only  sympathize  with  griefs  we  under 
stand—each  really  weeps  for  himself," 
she  replied,  following  her  friend  from 
the  room. 

"  That's  an  odd  little  girl,"  said  Net- 
tleton,  turning  back  to  the  table. 

' '  Yes  ;  unhappy  disposition,"  answered 
his  host,  sipping  a  cordial  with  a  satisfied 
air.  "Family  poor — girl  ambitious.  Been 
too  much  with  Nell,  I  reckon.  Gets  the 
taste  of  high  living,  and  doesn't  relish 
going  back  to  plain  fare.  Dick,  my  boy, 
try  this  liqueur — deuced  fine,  if  I  do  say 
so  myself!" 


156  SOCIETY   SILHOUETTES. 

Nettleton  lighted  his  cigar.  "It  was 
she,  then,"  he  said  to  himself.  "Poor 
little  girl — poor  little  girl !" 


KEEPING  UP  APPEARANCES.         157 


CHAPTER  III. 


"  Nell,  may  I  borrow  Adele  for  five 
minutes?" 

"  Good  gracious !"  aren't  you  dressed 
yet?  What  have  you  been  doing  all  this 
time,  Helen?" 

"Trying  to  make  your  cast-off  gown 
look  as  if  it  had  always  belonged  to  me," 
replied  the  girl. 

"  It  does  very  well,"  said  the  other, 
throwing  a  glance  over  her  shoulder. 
"  Here  is  some  lace  Adele  can  catch  into 
the  bodice,  but  do  hurry,  for  Dick  hates 
to  wait,  you  know." 

Adele's  quick  fingers  soon  put  the 
finishing  touches  to  the  simple  toilet, 
and  Helen  joined  the  waiting  group 
below. 

"  You  look  like  a  water  lily  in  that 
white  gown,  with  the  touches  of  green 


158  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 

about  you,"  Nettleton  said,  with  frank 
admiration  in  tone  and  glance. 

"  By  jove, yes  !  She  does  look  nice  to 
night."  chimed  in  Dick.  "  Haven't  you 
worn  that  gown  before?  It  looks  sort  of 
natural,  you  know." 

Helen  flushed.  "  It  is  one  of  Nellie's 
last  year  gowns,"  she  answered,  raising 
her  head  proudly. 

"  O  !"  stammered  Dick.  "  Well,  but 
you've  fixed  it  up  deuced  cleverly.  I 
hardly  recognized  it,  you  see!"  and  he 
turned  to  help  Nell  into  the  carriage, 
feeling  he  had  gotten  himself  out  of  that 
blunder  in  good  form. 

Leaning  far  back  in  her  corner  among 
the  cushions,  Helen  gave  herself  up  to 
bitter  thoughts.  Dick  called  to  them  from 
the  other  carriage,  and  Nettleton  shouted 
an  answer,  but  she  sat  still,  unheeding. 

"  Won't  you  talk  to  me,  please.  I'm 
half  asleep,"  he  said,  at  last. 

"  No  !  my  tongue  is  tipped  with  worm 
wood,  to-night,  and  had  best  keep  quiet," 
she  answered. 


KEEPING  UP  APPEARANCES.         159 

He  was  silent  a  moment,  and  then 
leaned  towards  her,  saying  quietly,  "  I 
think  you  are  wrong  !" 

"  What  do  you  mean?"  she  asked. 

"You  exaggerate  your  own  grievances, 
and,  forgive  me,  parade  them  too  much. 
It  was  not  necessary  to  tell  us  the  gown 
had  belonged  to  your  friend." 

She  did  not  answer,  and  he  went  on 
earnestly. 

"  Don't  be  offended,  but,  during  my 
visit  here  I  have  seen  your  unhappiness, 
and  felt  for  you  deeply,  and  I  want  to 
ask  you  why  you  stay  on  in  the  false  posi 
tion  you  are  placed  in  here.  It  doesn't 
make  you  happy!  " 

"  There  is  nothing  else  to  do,"  she 
answered  drearily. 

' '  Have  you  no  home  of  your  own,  then 
—no  family  ties?" 

"  Yes." 

"Then,  forgive  me  again,  but  why 
don't  you  go  to  those  who  love  and  need 
you?  Leave  this  hot-house  existence  for 
the  butterflies  who  belong  to  it !" 


l6o  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 

"  Oh,  you  don't  understand ! "  she  cried, 
half  sobbing. 

His  voice  drew  her  irresistibly.  She 
stretched  out  her  hands  in  the  darkness, 
and  felt  comforted  when  he  took  them  in 
his  own. 

"  Tell  me  about  it.  I  want  to  help  you 
if  I  can,  poor  little  girl." 

"  They  don't  love  me  at  home,  and  I 
don't  love  them.  It's  all  so  mean  and 
sordid  and  dull!"  she  broke  forth. 

He  did  not  answer,  but  she  felt  his 
clasp  loosen. 

"  I  knew  you  couldn't  understand," 
she  cried,  "  but  I  can't  help  it.  I  hate  to 
be  poor,  and  live  in  that  mean  way.  Peo 
ple  grow  narrow,  and  coarse,  and  selfish 
when  they  have  to  exist  like  that !" 

He  bent  nearer  her.  "  Are  you  sure 
you  are  not  the  selfish  one?" 

"I!"  she  exclaimed. 

"  Sunshine  will  brighten  the  most 
dingy  home,"  he  went  on.  "  If  you 
tried  to  bring  happiness  into  the  lives  of 
those  who  should  be  as  dear  as  they  are 


KEEPING  UP  APPEARANCES.         l6l 

near  to  you,  don't  you  think  they  would 
soon  grow  to  love  you  ?  I  know  you 
would  find  more  content  in  doing  that 
than  turning  your  back  on  duty,  and 
burning  your  heart  out  in  this  flame  of 
fashion." 

"O!  if  I  only  had  you  to  help  me, 
perhaps  I  could  do  it,  then  !  No  one 
ever  talked  to  me  like  this  before.  Why 
are  you  so  different  from  all  the  other 
men  Nell  knows!" 

He  half  smiled  in  the  darkness. 

"  I  am  no  more  one  of  Miss  Eleanor's 
circle  than  you  are.  We  are  equally  out 
of  our  element  here.  Her  father  and 
mine  are  old  time  friends,  however,  and 
I  have  strayed  here  through  that  connec 
tion." 

"  Are  all  the  men  like  you.  then,  that 
are  outside  her  set?" 

He  laughed  at  the  question.  "Heaven 
forbid  !  But  have  you  really  no  friends 
besides  those  in  Miss  Eleanor's  circle?" 

She  shook  her  head,  sighing  wearily. 
"  I've  always  hung  on  to  Nell's  skirts. 


1 62  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 

She  has  given  me  all  I  have  and  I  am  her 
body  servant,  in  return." 

"Poor  child!" 

The  tenderness  in  his  voice  thrilled 
her,  and  the  clasp  of  his  fingers  on  hers 
brought  a  sense  of  joy  into  her  heart 
that  was  as  strangely  sweet  as  new.  "  I 
could  die  for  him  !"  she  whispered  to 
herself,  and  sank  into  a  dream  that  held 
her  until  the  carriage  drew  up  before  the 
porte-cochere. 

Nell  and  Dick  had  arrived  before,  and 
were  not  easily  found  in  the  crowded 
rooms.  Dick  took  possession  of  Nettleton, 
and  Nell  allowed  herself  to  be  borne  off 
in  the  arms  of  a  tall,  ungainly  man,  who 
piloted  her  in  and  out  among  the  throng 
by  sheer  muscular  force.  Helen  subsided 
into  a  corner,  from  whence  she  gazed  at 
the  swaying  figures,  feeling  lonely  and 
set  apart,  in  the  midst  of  so  much  splendor 
and  prosperity.  Gradually  her  thoughts 
wandered  from  the  gay  scene  before  her, 
back  to  the  little  bare  room  at  home. 
Nettleton's  earnest  words  rang  again  in 


KEEPING  UP  APPEARANCES.         163 

her  ears.  Was  she  the  selfish  one  ?  Could 
she  make  life  at  home  brighter  if  she 
went  patiently  to  work,  and  broke  the 
chains  that  bound  her  to  this  life  of 
bitter-sweet?  "  I  could  do  anything  if 
he  would  help  me  !"  she  whispered  to 
herself,  and  blushed  warmly  as  she  saw 
the  object  of  her  thoughts  approaching. 

"What,  not  dancing?"  he  asked, 
smiling  down  at  her. 

"If  I  told  the  truth,  I  should  confess 
that  no  one  has  asked  me  to  do  so,  but, 
as  you  might  consider  that  a  '  needless 
parade  of  my  grievances,'  I'll  pretend  it  is 
too  warm  to  exert  one's  self  so  violently." 

He  laughed.  "  Come,  you  are  cross. 
You  have  been  left  alone  too  long ;  a 
turn  or  two  with  me  will  wake  you  up." 

He  clasped  her  to  him  with  a  gentle 
pressure,  and  drew  her  in  among  the 
swaying  forms.  Helen  forgot  to  breathe. 
The  music  throbbed  upon  the  air  with  a 
passionate  sweetness  that  made  her  heart 
ache,  and  the  touch  of  his  arm  filled  her 
with  a  rapture  that  was  pain.  Some  one, 


164  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 

brushing  against  them,  pressed  her  close 
to  his  side  for  one  short  instant,  and  he 
glanced  down  into  her  eyes. 

"  You  are  pale,"  he  murmured  ;  "  are 
you  tired?" 

She  could  not  answer.  His  arm  seemed 
to  draw  her  closer  for  a  moment,  and  then 
he  roused  himself. 

"  Come,  we'll  have  an  ice,  and  then  go 
home.  It's  late  enough  to  be  respectable, 
I'm  sure." 

She  followed  him  unresistingly,  still 
under  the  spell  of  the  music,  with  her 
eyes  full  of  dreams. 

"Hello,  you  two,  where  have  you  been 
hiding?  I've  looked  every  where  for  you," 
cried  Dick's  voice  a  few  moments  later, 
as  he  ran  across  them  in  the  refreshment 
room. 

"We  have  been  dancing,  and  after  we 
have  eaten  this,  we  are  going  home," 
Nettleton  replied. 

"Well,  you'll  have  to  take  us  with 
you  ;  that  blockhead  of  a  coachman  went 
home  after  he  brought  us  here,  so  Nell 


KEEPING  UP  APPEARANCES.         165 

and  I  will  have  to  crowd  in  on  you  two. 
Hope  you  don't  mind?" 

"Why  should  we?  We  are  the  ones 
who  will  be  de  trop  answered  Nettleton. 

It  was  a  silent  party  that  drove  home 
through  the  dim,  cool  night.  Helen's 
eyes  were  closed,  while  Nell  yawned 
audibly.  It  seemed  a  long  time  before 
they  drew  up  before  their  own  door. 

"I  don't  think  it  pays  to  go  to  balls  in 
the  country,"  grumbled  Nell,  "one  feels 
like  a  frump  after  driving  five  miles  to 
get  there,  and  the  distance  seems  twice 
as  long  going  home  !" 

Nettleton  turned  to  Helen  as  she  stood 
in  the  shadows. 

"Good-night,"  he  murmured,  taking 
her  hand  in  his. 

"Will  you  forgive  me  for  my  lecture?" 

Her  fingers  tightened  about  his.  "I 
am  going  to  try  to  be  unselfish,"  was  all 
she  said,  but,  after  she  had  gone,  he  re 
membered  that  her  eyes  had  been  full  of 
tears. 


l66  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

It  was  August,  and  the  air  was  heavy 
with  heat.  Helen  had  dressed  early  for 
dinner,  and  wandered  out  into  the  gath 
ering  twilight.  The  birds  were  calling 
drowsily  to  each  other,  and  the  breezes 
kissed  the  flowers  in  a  warm  caress.  All 
the  earth  was  in  a  slumberous  mood,  rest 
ing  softly  in  the  arms  of  Nature.  The 
sound  of  hasty  footsteps  broke  the  dreamy 
quiet,  and  Helen  turned  to  find  Nettle- 
ton  at  her  side,  with  a  troubled  look  in 
his  eyes  and  a  telegram  in  his  hand. 

"  What  has  happened?"  she  cried. 

"I  am  called  home.  Father  is  ill — they 
hope  not  fatally — but  I  cannot  tell " 

She  held  out  both  hands  to  him.  "Oh, 
how  sorry  I  am!"  she  said,  quick  tears 
filling  her  eyes. 

He  clasped  her  hands  close  in  both  his 


KEEPING  UP  APPEARANCES.         167 

own.  "This  is  a  sad  farewell,"  he  mur 
mured,  "but  I  hope  it  may  not  be  for 
ever." 

"Forever?"  she  cried. 

"Promise  me  one  thing,"  he  went  on 
hurriedly,  bending  his  face  to  hers. 
"Promise  that  you  will  give  up  this  un 
real  life  of  shadow-chasing,  and  go  home 
to  bring  some  sunshine  into  the  lives  of 
those  you  ought  to  love!  " 

She  did  not  answer.  Her  face  seemed 
carved  in  marble. 

"  Promise — for  my  sake  !"  he  whis 
pered. 

Her  eyes  grew  deep  with  a  sudden 
rapture,  and  her  face  held  the  glory  of 
sunset.  "For  your  sake?  I  would  do 
anything  for  you  !" 

For  an  instant  his  face  caught  the 
glowing  light  from  hers,  and  than  grew 
white  with  pain.  "Poor  child!"  he 
breathed.  "My  poor  little  girl !"  A  mo 
ment  more  he  gazed  into  her  eyes,  then 
stooping,  pressed  his  lips  to  her  forehead 
and  was  gone. 


l68  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 

She  stood  where  he  left  her,  swaying 
like  the  breeze-kissed  flowers  around  her, 
with  eyes  strangely  bright  and  lips  apart, 
as  if  she  drank  in  joy  that  was  half  pain. 
A  yellow  paper  rustled  at  her  feet.  It 
was  the  message  he  had  dropped — evil 
messenger  of  Fate,  that  took  from  out  her 
life  the  only  joy  she  had  ever  known. 
Lifting  the  crumpled  thing  from  where 
it  lay,  she  smoothed  it  out  and  read : 
"Come  at  once.  Your  father  ill.  We 
hope  not  fatally.  Margaret." 

"Margaret!"  Was  she  his  sister?  No! 
The  message  read  "Your  father!" 

A  blinding  misery  swept  over  the  girl 
as  she  stood  alone  in  the  gathering 
gloom.  "Forever  !"  Had  he  not  said 
the  word?  Forever — forever — oh,  eternity 
of  pain ! 

"Helen!  Helen  !"  came  a  voice  from 
the  house,  but  she  could  not  move.  The 
sound  of  wheels,  and  voices  calling  out 
last  good-byes,  rang  on  the  evening  air. 
He  was  gone,  then,  while  she  stood 
there  in  the  night,  alone — alone  forever ! 


KEEPING  UP  APPEARANCES.         169 

After  what  seemed  long  years  of  mis 
ery,  she  dragged  herself  back  to  the 
house,  longing  only  for  the  solitude 
which  dumb  creatures  seek  when  they 
receive  their  death  blow. 

"Helen,  where  have  you  been?" 

Nell's  voice  startled  her  into  conscious 
ness. 

"In  the  garden — I  don't  feel  well — I'm 
going  to  my  room,"  she  answered  lacon 
ically. 

"But  won't  you  have  dinner  first  ?" 

"No,  I  couldn't  eat !" 

Slowly  she  ascended  the  stairs,  as 
though  her  heart  was  too  heavy  to  carry. 
"I  am  going  home  to-morrow,  Nell," 
she  called  back,  passing  on  to  her  room 
without  waiting  for  an  answer. 

The  moonbeams  stole  in  at  her  window, 
flooding  the  place  with  brightness,  and 
Helen  set  to  work  at  her  packing,  with 
only  its  light  to  aid  her.  She  worked  on 
with  feverish  haste  until  the  last  garment 
was  folded  away  in  the  small  trunk  and 
then,  when  it  was  all  done,  she  knelt  at 


SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 

the  window,  resting  her  head  on  her 
arms  and  yielding  to  the  utter  weariness 
that  filled  both  heart  and  soul. 

The  August  moon  drifted  overhead  in 
all  its  stately  splendor,  as  calm,  as  serene 
as  if  its  silver  rays  did  not  fall  upon  the 
miseries  of  a  world  ! 

"  Helen  must  be  asleep,  her  room  is  so 
dark,"  came  Nell's  voice  from  below. 

"Why  does  she  go  home  so  suddenly?" 
put  in  Dick's  baritone. 

Nell  laughed.  "  Oh,  I  only  asked  her 
down  to  amuse  Hector  Nettleton,  you 
know,  and  now  he's  gone,  I  suppose  she 
knows  I  don't  need  her  any  more." 

"  Nor  want  her?" 

"Silly  boy!  I  never  want  anyone 
when  I  have  you!" 

An  eloquent  pause  followed,  broken  at 
last  by  Dick. 

"  Nettleton's  a  deuced  fine  fellow ; 
pity  he  couldn't  have  fallen  in  love  \vith 
Helen,  for  her  sake." 

"  Oh,  he's  engaged  to  a  Margaret  some 
body,  you  know.  Family  affair  ;  it  was 


KEEPING  UP  APPEARANCES.         I>JI 

settled  when  they  were  almost  children, 
I  think." 

"  Queer  way  of  doing  things,"  ex 
claimed  Dick.  "  I'll  bet  he  doesn't  care 
a  rap  for  her  now." 

Their  words  were  lost  in  the  distance 
as  they  strolled  on  into  the  night, and  only 
Nell's  flute-like  laugh  floated  back  to  the 
girl  at  the  window. 

She  raised  her  face  to  the  sky,  all  wet 
with  tears.  "Oh,  God!"  she  sobbed; 
"  I  pray  that  he  may  love  her.  I  pray 
he  may  find  peace!" 


172  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 


THE  TOUCH  OF  NATURE. 


April  had  arrived 
to  lure  forth  trusting  mortals 
with  its  warm  smiles,  only  to 
lose  the  sunny  mood  in  petulant  bursts  of 
rain. 

Gentle  breezes  murmured  among  the 
tree  tops,  as  if  the  rustling  garments  of 
spring  were  heralding  her  approach. 
The  park  was  filled  with  people,  eager 
to  taste  the  first  delights  of  summer. 

"Why  do  you  sigh — are  you  tired?" 
asked  a  tall  young  man,  glancing  down  at 
his  companion. 

"  Oh  no !  I  was  only  wondering  how  it 
would  seem  to  own  a  carriage,  and  lie 
among  the  cushions  like  that  woman  over 
there  !" 

His  glance  followed  hers. 

"  I  wouldn't  have  you  look  as  tired  and 


THE  TOUCH  OF  NATURE.  173 

fretful  as  she  does  for  all  the  wealth  of 
the  world!"  he  exclaimed. 

"  Ah,  but  /should  be  happy,"  she  re 
plied  quickly. 

He  shook  his  head.  "  The  hot-house 
atmosphere  that  rich  women  live  in  is  as 
deadly  as — well,  as  any  prison  from 
which  Nature  is  shutout.  Don't  you  see 
how  cold  her  eyes  look?  They  don't 
smile  with  her  mouth,  poor  thing !" 

A  ripple  of  laughter  broke  over  his 
words  as  if  in  derision.  Several  well- 
groomed  men  surrounded  the  carriage, 
and  their  gay  voices  reached  the  girl  and 
her  companion  as  they  passed  by,  and 
were  lost  in  the  ever-changing  throng  of 
faces. 

Many  envious  glances  were  cast  on  the 
gay  group  that  laughed  and  chatted  until 
the  sun  sank  low,  and  April  changed  her 
mood  to  one  of  tears. 

"Get  in;  I'll  drop  you  at  the  club!" 
said  the  soft-voiced  woman  of  luxury,  as 
she  made  room  for  one  of  the  men  at  her 
side. 


174  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 

"  You  are  charity  itself,  Mrs.  Bolton, 
and  I  am  favored  of  the  gods.  This  April 
weather  plays  the  deuce,  doesn't  it!" 

She  laughed  idly. 

"O,  it's  amusing.  I  like  variety  even 
in  the  weather.  Life  is  so  deadly  dull !" 

"To  us  poor  beggars,  yes,  but  it  ought 
not  be  to  you  who  are  young,  lovely,  rich 
and  blessed  with  a  husband  and  children 
that  any  woman  might  envy." 

"Heavens!  how  bourgeois  you  are, 
Jack !  No  one  ever  thinks  of  including 
a  husband  or  children  among  their  list  of 
blessings,  nowadays !  If  you  had  said  I 
was  the  acknowledged  leader  of  our  set, 
or  had  the  name  of  being  the  best-gowned 
woman  in  the  city,  then  I  should  have 
felt  flattered." 

He  bent  toward  her  and  took  her  hand 
in  his.  "  You  are  the  most  charming 
woman  on  earth,"  he  murmured,  letting 
his  eyes  dwell  upon  her  face  with  open 
admiration.  "You  know  I  adore  you, 
but  you  seem  as  heartless  as  you  are 


THE  TOUCH  OF  NATURE.  175 

lovely.  You  care  only  to  be  admired, 
not  loved." 

"Don't  preach!  It's  a  bore.  Why 
should  one  love?  It's  pleasanter  to  be 
amused." 

"  And  are  you  amused?" 

She  shrugged  her  shoulders. 

"  I  wonder  what  you  would  do  if  Tom 
should  lose  his  grip,"  he  said,  medita 
tively. 

"Don't  suggest  such  a  horror!  Drown 
myself,  probably.  I  couldn't  live  with 
out  my  horses  and  opera  box,  now." 

"  Don't  drown  yourself — come  to  me," 
he  whispered. 

She  laughed.  "  That  would  be  the 
step  beyond  suicide — purgatory !  "  she 
said. 

"  Perhaps  not.  I  could  at  least  give 
you  plenty  of  money." 

"  Here  is  the  club  at  last— do  get  out 
and  make  yourself  cheerful  over  cigars 
and  poker.  You're  horribly  tiresome  to 
day." 

The  carriage  door  snapped  upon  him, 


176  SOCIETY   SILHOUETTES. 

but  was  opened  again  before  the  footman 
had  regained  his  box,  and  a  tall,  dark 
man  threw  himself  back  among  the  cush 
ions  as  the  horses  started  forward  once 
more. 

"Good  heavens,  Tom!  what  a  bear 
you  are !  Look  how  you  have  crushed 
my  velvet.  Do  sit  up  and  don't  act  like 
a  melo-dramatic  goose." 

The  man  at  her  side  bent  his  head  on 
his  hands  and  groaned  aloud. 

"  We  are  ruined,  Sara,"  he  said, 
hoarsely.  "  The  bank  has  closed  its 
doors." 

The  face  beside  him  grew  strangely 
white,  and  the  delicately  gloved  hands 
clenched  themselves.  She  gazed  at  her 
husband  in  silent  horror  until  he  lifted 
his  haggard  face  to  meet  her  eyes. 

"  I  couldn't  help  it!"  he  half  sobbed. 
"All  these  weeks  and  months  I  have 
struggled  on,  but  everything  went  dead 
wrong,  and  when  the  street  found  out 
my  condition  it  was  all  up  with  me." 

The   lines    of   suffering   were   sharply 


THE  TOUCH  OF  NATURE.  I^y 

drawn,  and  his  brown  eyes  misty  with 
pain,  but  the  pleading  in  their  depths 
went  unanswered  by  the  wife  at  his  side, 
who  shrank  from  his  touch  and  turned 
her  face  away. 

On  and  on  they  rolled  while  the  rain 
beat  against  the  carriage  windows,  as  if 
the  heavens  wept  in  sympathy  with  the 
misery  of  man. 

It  was  dusk  when  they  drew  up  before 
their  own  door,  but  the  lights  were  burn 
ing  in  the  library  and  he  paused  as  he 
reached  the  threshold. 

"Come  in  here,"  he  said.  "I  must 
speak  to  you — I  must  tell  you — oh,  Sara! 
don't  look  at  me  like  that.  Don't  you 
see  how  I  suffer?" 

She  stood  before  him,  silent  and  cold, 
with  a  deep  fire  of  resentment  burning 
in  her  eyes. 

"  You  must  have  seen  how  anxious  I 
have  been  of  late,"  he  went  on,  desper 
ately.  "  Every  one  but  you  knew  of  my 
trouble.  I  have  been  living  the  life  of  a 
lost  soul,  while  you  have  flirted  and 


178  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 

danced  away  the  hours.  You  are  a 
heartless  coquette,  a  vain  woman,  a " 

She  turned  to  leave  the  room,  but  he 
sprang  before  her.  "  Oh,  forgive  me  !" 
he  cried,  his  voice  harsh  with  pain.  "  I 
am  mad,  Sara.  I  didn't  mean  what  I 
said.  It  is  not  for  me  to  reproach  you 
when  I  have  brought  such  misery  upon 
you." 

He  caught  her  hands  and  pressed  them 
to  his  forehead. 

"  Won't  you  forgive  me  for  it  all?  I 
have  done  my  best,  dear.  Oh,  can't  you 
go  back  to  the  old  days  before  the  money 
came?  We  were  poor  enough  then,  and 
yet  we  were  happy.  Only  give  me  one 
word  of  comfort  and  I  will  take  courage 
and  work  for  you  night  and  day." 

She  drew  away  from  him. 

"  I  do  not  clearly  understand  what  has 
happened,"  she  said,  coldly.  "  Are  we 
to  lose  this  house,  the  carriage,  servants, 
everything?  Then  be  so  good  as  to  tell 
me  where  I  am  to  go.  Shall  I  be  turned 
into  the  streets?" 


THE  TOUCH  OF  NATURE.  179 

He  dropped  back  from  her  with  a  look 
of  despair.  "  No,"  he  answered.  "  I 
have  been  able  to  secure  one  thing  from 
the  wreck — a  farm,  that  will  at  least  sup 
port  us  until  I  have  a  chance  to  get  on 
my  feet  once  more." 

"  A  farm  !"  her  scornful  voice  echoed 
through  the  room  like  the  laugh  of  an 
evil  spirit.  "  I  will  make  a  good  farm 
er's  wife  !"  She  glanced  at  her  reflection 
in  the  opposite  mirror.  "  My  ball  gowns 
will  be  convenient  for  dairy  work,  being 
already  sleeveless,  and  I  can  literally 
'  cast  my  pearls  before  swine  !'  ' 

She  smiled  bitterly  and  turned  towards 
the  door. 

"Sara!"  he  cried,  "don't  leave  me 
like  this.  I  tell  you  I  am  not  to  blame. 
I  did  my  best." 

She  paused  on  the  threshold. 

"lam  your  wife,"  she  said,  "  and  I 
must  endure  this,  but  I  shall  never  for 
give  you  for  what  you  have  done,  never!" 


l8o  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 


CHAPTER    II. 


April  wept  itself  out,  and  May  was 
ushered  in  to  the  sound  of  wedding  bells 
and  the  music  of  laughter  and  song.  All 
the  world  made  merry  and  Spring 
laughed  back.  The  great  mansion  which 
had  been  the  center  of  feast  and  frolic  so 
short  a  time  since,  stood  silent  and  cold, 
facing  the  butterfly  throngs  as  if  sternly 
musing  upon  the  fickleness  of  friendships 
which  yesterday  embraced  and  kissed  on 
both  cheeks,  and  to-day,  forgets  ! 

Occasionally  some  one  would  glance 
at  the  grimly  solitary  house  as  they  rolled 
by  behind  their  well-groomed  horses, 
and  throw  a  temporary  thought  of  pity 
to  the  woman  who  had  had  to  surrender 
so  much.  But  Sara  had  been  too  success 
ful  as  a  leader  and  too  great  a  favorite  in 
society,  not  to  excite  a  fatal  envy  among 


THE  TOUCH  OF  NATURE.  l8l 

her  circle  of  women  "friends,"  so  there 
was  a  subtle  undercurrent  of  satisfaction 
at  her  downfall. 

As  for  the  men  of  her  world — men  are 
but  men !  Besides,  there  are  so  many 
charming  women  ready  and  willing  to 
give  them  pleasure ! 

So  the  silent  house  frowned  resentfully 
upon  the  merry  folk  who  had  revelled 
within  its  wide-spreading  arms,  and 
now  only  laughed  as  they  passed  it,  in 
heartless  disregard  of  the  chagrin  and 
broken  ambitions,  to  which  it  stood  as 
monumental  witness.  Its  proud  grand 
eur  repelled  pity — even  cold  stone  resents 
that  substitute  for  true  compassion — and, 
as  there  was  nowhere  a  heart  that  could 
give  forth  sympathy,  it  closed  its  shuttered 
windows  fast,  and  bore  its  pain  in 
silence. 

But  society  laughed  on,  unheeding,  and 
was  very  gay.  "Times  are  better,"  the 
men  told  each  other  over  their  club  cock 
tails,  and  women  testified  to  the  fact  by 
magnificent  toilets  which  turned  poor 


l82  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 

Spring  quite  green  with  envy,  and  by 
launching  forth  into  a  series  of  enter 
tainments  the  brilliancy  of  which  eclipsed 
all  former  records. 

Every  one  laughed,  every  one  pros 
pered,  every  one — forgot !  Now  and  then 
a  man  might  be  heard  to  mutter  that  "it 
was  a  deuced  pity  poor  old  Tom  got 
knocked  out  just  when  the  tide  turned," 
but  when  letters  came  from  "poor  old 
Tom,"  asking  for  a  lift,  or  a  loan,  to  put 
him  on  his  feet  again,  it  was  not  of  the 
return  of  prosperity  upon  which  he  dwelt 
in  his  letter  of  reply. 

And  so  Time  passed  by,  sadly  won 
dering  at  the  manners  of  men,  and  Na 
ture  laid  her  magic  hand  upon  the  fruit 
and  flowers,  the  meadows  and  the  grain, 
and  many  wondrous  things  grew  and 
opened  under  her  toilch,  and  slowly 
ripened  to  perfection. 

Sara  felt  dimly  that  she  was  become  a 
part  of  all  this  silent,  subtle  growth  and 
change.  At  first  the  quiet  of  the  country 
had  stifled  her  ;  the  monotony  of  her  life 


THE  TOUCH  OF  NATURE.  183 

strangled  her,  and  at  times  she  had  felt 
as  if  on  the  verge  of  madness.  For 
weeks  she  had  shut  herself  away  from 
her  children,  and  avoided  even  a  glance 
at  Tom,  whose  white,  deadened  face,  ir 
ritated  and  angered  her.  She  resented 
his  looking  like  that  when  it  was  upon 
her  the  keenest  misery  fell — upon  her,  to 
whom  the  surrender  of  that  brilliant  ex 
istence  meant  a  bitter  anguish  too  great 
for  words.  She  felt  that  she  hated  him, 
in  those  first  weeks  of  exile,  and  turned 
back  into  herself  until  that  inner  self  re 
belled,  and  cried  out  for  food  less  bitter. 

At  last  the  heat  of  the  long  summer 
days,  together  with  the  fierce  and  unceas 
ing  battle  which  she  fought  within  her 
self,  brought  on  an  illness,  and  Tom  had 
nursed  her  day  and  night  with  a  patient, 
silent  devotion,  which,  in  spite  of  her 
anger  and  resentment,  touched  the  hid 
den  spring  of  life  in  her  heart,  and 
sweetened  the  bitterness  that  had  poi 
soned  her  whole  soul. 

Slowly,  as  she    recovered  strength,  a 


184  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 

wonderful  new  life  grew  silently,  and 
with  subtle  stealth  in  her  heart  of  hearts. 
She  watched  the  flowers  bud  and  blos 
som  ;  the  fruit  as  it  ripened  under  God's 
sunlight,  and,  as  the  marvelous  secrets 
of  Nature  revealed  themselves,  her  soul 
grew  and  taught  her  the  divine  myster 
ies  of  Life  and  Love,  of  Death  and 
Eternity. 

Then  it  was  that  her  children  drew 
close  to  her,  with  that  strange  instinct 
which  leads  a  child  through  the  intrica 
cies  of  hearts  and  souls,  where  wise  men 
would  be  lost,  and,  in  her  days  of  weak 
ness,  she  found  the  fountain  from  which 
flowed  her  greatest  strength. 

But  Tom  !  poor  love  is  blind,  and  Tom 
could  not  read  the  signs  by  which  Sara 
tried  to  show  him  many  wondrous,  new 
things.  He  could  not  clamber  over  the 
barriers,  she  herself  had  built,  as  his 
trusting  babies  could.  About  his  great 
love  for  her  he  had  drawn  a  cloak  of 
adament  to  shield  the  sacred  treasure 
from  the  sting  of  sharp,  cruel  words 


THE  TOUCH  OF  NATURE.  185 

which  had  pricked  his  heart,  like  thorns 
that  could  not  be  withdrawn,  and  which 
festered,  bleeding  still,  behind  the  calm, 
cold  surface. 

He  had  not  forgotten  the  face  she 
turned  upon  him  that  fickle  April  day. 
It  haunted  his  sleep  and  drove  him  to 
seek  aid  from  those  whom  otherwise  his 
manhood  would  have  shunned,  in  the 
vain  effort  to  give  her  back  the  glories  of 
which  he  had  robbed  her.  That  it  was 
he  who  gave  them  to  her  in  the  first  place, 
seemed  not  to  count.  He  had  lost  them — 
he  had  lost  her— that  was  all !  That  she 
could  ever  change  never  dawned  upon 
him.  How  could  a  woman  change  from 
hate  to  love?  Only  a  woman  can  an 
swer! 

But  the  children  understood. 

And  so,  slowly,  in  stately  graciousness, 
fair  Summer  drifted  by,  while  Nature 
caressed  dear  Mother  Earth  until  she 
yielded  all  she  held,  and  the  harvest  was 
at  hand. 


l86  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 


CHAPTER  III. 


The  world  was  five  months  older,  and 
nature  had  long  since  robed  the  earth  in 
summer  garb.  The  hills  were  clad  in 
emerald  freshness,  and  in  their  midst 
nestled  a  picturesque  house,  which  spread 
its  white  wings  like  a  bird  sheltering  its 
young  in  tender  protection. 

A  broad  veranda  encircled  the  house, 
and  in  the  distance  a  miniature  lake 
dimpled  the  earth. 

In  the  windless  twilight  the  echo  of 
children's  laughter  floated  upon  the  air, 
and  at  the  sound  a  woman's  figure  rose 
from  the  hammock  cushions,  and  moved 
slowly  in  the  direction  of  the  voices. 

It  was  a  pretty  scene  that  greeted  her. 
The  last  lingering  rays  of  the  setting  sun 
were  touching  a  hay  stack  into  dull  gold, 
and  a  small  brown  farm  house  stood  near 


THE  TOUCH  OF  NATURE.  187 

by,  surrounded  by  little  sheds,  like  an 
old  hen  with  its  brood  of  chickens,  while 
solemn-eyed  cows  were  chewing  their 
cud,  patiently  waiting  their  turn  to  be 
milked. 

The  laughing  voices  proceeded  from 
the  big  barn,  and  a  shout  of  welcome 
hailed  the  approaching  figure  as  she  drew 
near. 

"  Look,  look,  mamma!  We  are  lions 
and  tigers,  and  we  have  caught  papa  and 
put  him  in  our  den,  and  now  we  are  going 
to  eat  him  all  up  !" 

Two  merry  brown  faces  looked  down 
from  the  pile  of  sweet-scented  hay,  and 
as  she  gazed  up  at  them  a  tousled  dark 
head  appeared  beside  them.  "  I'm  just 
amusing  them  a  little,  Sara,"  he  said, 
deprecatingly,  but  the  boys  were  down 
upon  him  in  an  instant. 

"  No !  no !  You  can't  go — we  haven't 
eaten  you  up,  yet!"  they  cried,  and  a 
rough-and-tumble  game  among  the  hay 
followed. 

The  weary  expression  faded   from  the 


l88  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 

eyes  looking  on,  and  a  faint  smile  grew 
in  their  depths  as  the  shouts  of  delight 
made  the  rafters  ring  above  her  head. 

"  Catch  him  !  oh,  do  catch  him,  mam 
ma!"  cried  Lawrence,  as  his  father  elu 
ded  him  and  sprang  to  the  floor  out  of 
reach. 

"  No,  sir !  I've  escaped  now,  fair  and 
square,  so  the  game  is  up,"  laughed  the 
dishevelled  victim.  "  Besides,  it  is  tea 
time,  and  you  boys  must  run  in  to  be 
cleaned  up  a  bit,  or  mamma  won't  let  us 
play  in  the  barn  again,"  and  he  laughed 
once  more  as  Danny  turned  a  somersault 
in  his  efforts  to  gain  the  ground. 

"  I'll  beat  to  the  house,"  cried  Larry, 
and  away  they  scampered  over  the  fields. 

"Hadn't  you  better  go,  too?"  asked 
his  wife,  glancing  over  his  disordered 
dress.  "You  seem  to  have  returned  to 
your  childhood  since  we  came  here ;  you 
act  like  an  overgrown  schoolboy!" 

Tom  drew  himself  up  and  smoothed 
his  hair.  "  The  boys  are  so  happy,"  he 
murmured,  apologetically. 


THE  TOUCH  OF  NATURE.  189 

' '  Aren't  you  ever  going  to  do  anything 
but  play  with  them  and  lie  round  on  the 
grass?"  she  asked,  and  had  he  looked  at 
her  he  would  have  seen  that  she  was 
smiling.  But  he  did  not  glance  at  her. 
His  eyes  rested  on  the  opal-tinted  sky, 
and  he  sighed  wearily  as  he  answered  : 

"  I  am  making  every  effort  to  retrieve 
myself,  but  things  move  slowly,  and  it  is 
good  to  forget — everything  sometimes, 
in  a  romp  with  the  boys.  They  are  such 
dear  fellows ;  it  rests  me  to  be  with 
them." 

She  looked  up  at  him  as  he  stood  be 
side  her.  The  witchery  of  twilight  was 
closing  in  upon  them,  and  the  still  coun 
try  air  was  sweet  with  the  odor  of  a 
thousand  blossoms.  The  chatter  of  the 
boys'  voices  reached  them  through  the 
gathering  dusk,  and  the  light  from  the 
dining  room  streamed  across  the  veran 
da  with  a  cosy  welcome.  It  was  all 
very  peaceful,  quiet,  homelike  ;  and  Tom, 
as  he  stood  with  bared  head,  looked 
oddly  handsome  in  the  mystic  lights.  He 


190  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 

turned  towards  her  suddenly,  as  if  drawn 
by  the  magnetism  of  her  gaze,  and  their 
eyes  met. 

"  This  is  all  very  tame  and  wearisome 
to  you,  Sara,"  he  said,  sadly.  "  But  try 
to  be  patient  a  little  longer  and  you  shall 
have  your  baubles  back  again." 

He  drew  his  hand  across  his  brow  and 
sighed  heavily. 

She  moved  restlessly  and  echoed  his 
sigh. 

"  I  wish  I  could  make  you  happy  !"  he 
cried,  turning  away,  and  entering  the 
house  abruptly.  ? 

"Tom!"  she  called,  but  he  did  not 
hear,  and  the  night  wind  caught  a  sob 
from  her  lips  as  she  raised  her  face  to  the 
sky.  "  Why  won't  he  understand?  " 
she  whispered  to  herself. 

"Mamma,  do  hurry,  Janet  has  hot 
biscuits  and  honey  for  tea,"  and  Law 
rence  drew  her  in  to  the  pretty  room, 
where  the  mellow  rays  of  a  hanging  lamp 
fell  upon  the  round  table,  with  its  white 


THE  TOUCH  OF  NATURE.  ipl 

and  gold  china,  and  center  piece  of  wild 
roses. 

Danny  was  showing  a  newly  found 
bird's  nest,  and  eagerly  describing  its 
capture.  "  We  can  climb  any  tree  in  the 
orchard  now,  can't  we,  Larry?"  he  cried. 
"  My!  but  we're  glad  you  came  here  to 
live,  papa ;  it's  a  heap  nicer  than  that 
stuffy  old  New  York.  A  fellow  couldn't 
have  any  fun  there." 

"  Yes,  and  besides,  we  never  used  to 
see  mamma  when  we  lived  there,"  added 
Lawrence,  "  and  now  we  have  her  all 
the  time.  That's  the  best  part  of  it  all,  I 
think." 

Tom  glanced  across  the  table  at  his 
wife,  and  her  cheeks  flushed  under  his 
gaze. 

"Mamma  was  very  busy  in  those 
days,"  he  said  quickly  as  he  noted  the 
hot  flush. 

"  O  yes,  I  know,"  answered  the  boy, 
"but  I'm  glad  she  isn't  busy  any  more, 
because  it's  so  nice  to  have  her  always 
with  us,  isn't  it  papa?"  It  was  her  eyes 


192  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 

this  time  that  sought  the  other's  face, 
but  he  did  not  meet  her  gaze. 

"  We  want  mamma  to  be  happy,  my 
boy,"  was  all  he  said,  and  with  a  sigh 
she  dropped  her  eyes  upon  her  plate  and 
fell  into  a  long  revery. 

The  boys'  voices  grew  dim  in  her  ears, 
while  memory  carried  her  back  to  the 
first  few  years  of  married  life  when  she 
had  been  the  children's  best  playfellow, 
and  the  sunlight  of  their  father's  life. 
But  when  the  money  had  come  to  them, 
she  had  lost  her  simple  happiness  in  the 
glitter  and  glare  of  the  world's  delights, 
and  missing  the  sweetness  of  life,  had 
wondered,  fretfully,  why  she  was  not  as 
gay  as  the  rest  of  society  seemed  to  be. 

"No,  Danny  boy,  mamma  is  too  tired 
to  put  you  to  bed  to-night." 

"But  I  want  her  to  sing  tome — she 
often  does  now." 

The  words  roused  her  and  she  rose 
from  the  table.  "Yes,  I  will  take  him," 
she  said,  lifting  the  sturdy  little  fellow 
in  her  arms,  and  turning  towards  the 


THE  TOUCH  OF  NATURE.  193 

door,  with  Danny's  triumphant  face 
laughing  defiance  over  her  shoulder,  and 
Larry's  arms  about  her  waist.  Tom  fol 
lowed  them  wistfully  with  his  eyes,  and 
then  turned  out  into  the  cool,  dim  night. 

Nature  lay  sleeping  under  a  silvery 
coverlet  of  moonbeams.  Peace  walked 
abroad,  and  the  breezes  whispered  among 
the  tree  tops  with  gentle  murmurings, 
lest  they  should  waken  the  dreaming  birds 
that  nestled  among  the  leaves. 

The  shadows  lifted  from  his  eyes  as 
they  dwelt  upon  the  beauty  of  the  scene. 
"  I  will  make  her  happy  yet,"  he  mur 
mured  to  himself.  "In  such  a  fair  world 
pain  and  discontent  can  not  live." 

A  soft,  low  voice  stole  out  into  the 
night,  singing  a  tender  lullaby,  and  the 
watcher  outside  stood  listening  until  it 
grew  fainter  and  fainter,  finally  dying 
away  into  the  gentle  crooning  of  a 
mother-bird. 

"  God  bless  her  !"  he  whispered  under 
his  breath. 


194  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 


CHAPTER  IV. 


The  clear  notes  of  a  bugle  woke  the 
echoes  far  and  near. 

"  Good  Heavens  !  That's  a  coaching 
horn,  who  can  be  coming?"  A  white- 
robed  figure  ran  out  into  the  glare  of 
afternoon  sunlight,  shading  her  eyes  with 
her  hand,  to  gaze  down  the  dusty  high 
way. 

"Who  is  it?"  called  Tom,  from  the 
shade  of  the  vine-clad  porch. 

"Ned  Darnley's  coach,  and  five,  six, 
eight  in  the  party.  Oh,  Tom!  What 
shall  we  do?" 

"We  are  no  longer  fashionable,  so  I 
don't  suppose  we  can  send  word  to 
them  that  we  are  'not  at  home,'  "  he  an 
swered,  with  a  flippancy  his  face  denied. 

"  But  I'll  have  to  get  something  for 
them  to  eat!"  she  cried,  in  dismay. 


THE  TOUCH  OF  NATURE.  195 

"  Well,  they  have  come  for  country 
fare  ;  give  it  to  them,"  he  said. 

"  Honey  and  cream  and  eggs?  Oh!" 
she  faltered. 

By  this  time  the  coaching-party  had 
caught  sight  of  the  white  figure  on  the 
steps  and  a  cheer  arose,  mingling  with 
the  blare  of  the  bugle  as  they  swept  up 
the  drive  and  stopped  before  her. 

"Here  we  are!  You  didn't  invite  us, 
so  we  thought  we  would  give  you  a  sur 
prise  party." 

"  Sara,  my  love,  you  have  actually 
grown  fleshy ;  I  think  I'll  come  for  a 
summer  boarder!"  cried  one  tall,  thin 
girl. 

"  Hello,  Tom,  old  man!  Lend  a  hand 
with  these  nags,  will  you?" 

"  Why,  how  pleasant  it  is  here,  Sara. 
I  never  thought  it  would  be  like  this !" 

"  What  did  you  expect  to  find  ?"  asked 
Sara,  helping  to  relieve  her  guests  of 
their  light  wraps,  and  bringing  out  more 
cushions  for  the  hammocks. 

"  Oh,  a  sort  of  farm  house,  you  know, 


196  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 

surrounded  by  pigs  and  chickens  and  all 
that ;  but  this  is  quite  a  charming  summer 
villa  !" 

Sara's  cheeks  grew  warm  at  the  tone  of 
condescension. 

"It  is  very  pleasant  and  we  are  not 
disturbed  by  chattering  neighbors,"  she 
said. 

"  But  don't  you  nearly  die  of  ennui?" 
asked  another.  "  You  were  the  gayest 
of  us  all  in  town.  I  declare,  it  is  too 
bad  to  have  you  buried  alive  out  here!" 

"I  don't  feel  buried!"  cried  Sara, 
resentfully. 

"  We  miss  you  awfully,  my  dear.  It 
is  so  deliciously  gay  this  season,"  ran  on 
a  third.  "  Of  course,  you  have  heard  all 
about  the  Adirondacks  party  ;  you  were 
to  have  been  one  of  us,  you  know.  Well, 
it  was  simply  perfect !  Two  swell  Eng 
lishmen  were  in  the  crowd,  one  a  younger 
son  of  a  Duke,  awfully  swell,  you  know." 

"  Grace  thinks  she  has  him,"  whispered 
the  first  speaker  in  Sara's  ear,  "but  he 
is  only  flirting;  he  told  me  all  about  it." 


THE   TOUCH  OF  NATURE.  197 

"  Helen  Avery  is  making  a  dead  set 
at  Stanton  Reeds.  His  wife  died  last 
spring,  you  remember,  and  Helen  is 
already  angling  for  his  millions,"  said 
one  of  the  girls,  and  there  was  a  general 
laugh. 

The  men  joined  them  later  and  they 
scattered  into  groups  of  two  and  three, 
while  Sara  vanished  to  consult  Janet 
upon  the  condition  of  the  larder.  There 
was  no  use  in  attempting  any  elegance, 
so  she  decided  to  take  Tom's  advice  and 
give  them  a  simple  lunch  of  country  fare. 

The  boys  brought  her  great  bunches  of 
roses  and  white  wood  violets,  and  she 
lingered  about  the  table,  arranging  the 
flowers  so  as  best  to  set  off  the  quaint 
old  silver  and  dainty  china.  She  dreaded 
returning  to  the  veranda.  The  gay 
chatter  jarred  upon  her  strangely  and  the 
world  she  had  lost,  once  so  all  important, 
seemed  oddly  vapid,  now  that  she  stood 
outside  the  charmed  circle.  There  was 
no  end,  no  aim  in  it  all.  Only  a  dizzy 
whirling  round  and  round  in  one  narrow 


198  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 

space.  It  reminded  her  of  the  senseless 
rotations  of  a  whirligig. 

She  heard  her  boys  go  past,  on  their 
way  to  the  berry  patch,  and,  going  to 
the  window,  she  watched  them  as  they 
trudged  along,  swinging  a  big  tin  pail 
between  them.  How  brown  they  had 
grown,  bless  their  merry  faces! 

"  Sara,  can  I  help  you?" 

It  was  Tom's  voice  and  she  turned  to 
find  him  regarding  her,  wistfully. 

"  No,  no,"  she  answered,  becoming 
conscious  that  there  were  tears  in  her 
eyes  and  hurriedly  brushing  them  away 
as  she  smiled  up  at  him. 

"  I'm  going  to  take  your  advice  and 
just  give  them  berries  and  cream,  with 
some  of  Janet's  famous  biscuits." 

He  laid  his  hand  on  her  arm  as  she 
passed  him.  "  I  know  this  is  all  very 
hard  for  you,"  he  said.  "  Your  tears 
fall  like  lead  on  my  heart." 

"  O,  Tom!  Can't  you  see ?"  she 

began,  impetuously ;  but  a  light  laugh 


THE  TOUCH  OF  NATURE.  199 

broke  in  upon  them  as  one  of  the  girls 
tripped  in  through  the  low  window. 

"Heavens!  a  scene  of  domestic  bliss  ; 
how  romantic  !"  she  cried. 

Tom  left  the  room  abruptly  and  Sara 
bent  over  the  flower-strewn  table. 

"  It  almost  looks  like  '  love  in  a  cot 
tage'  to  see  you  and  Torn  so  spoony,"  she 
ran  on  carelessly.  "  I  should  think  you 
would  have  to  make  love  to  your  husband, 
if  only  to  have  a  little  excitement  in  this 
dreadful  exile.  You  poor  thing  !  We  all 
feel  awfully  sorry  for  you,  don't  you 
know.  I  do  hope  Tom  can  come  back 
to  New  York  soon!" 

Sara  drew  herself  up  proudly.  "Your 
sympathy  is  wasted,"  she  said.  "  I  don't 
care  to  return  to  the  life  you  think  so 
fine.  I  have  learned  something  better. 
I  love  this  little  home,  and  I'm  not 
ashamed  to  confess  that  I  love — my  hus 
band!" 

The  girl  shrugged  her  shoulders  and 
glanced  about  the  simply  furnished  room. 
Sara  caught  the  smile  on  her  lips,  and 


2OO  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 

her  cheeks  flushed,  but  she  said  nothing, 
and  the  awkward  silence  was  broken  by 
Janet  announcing  that  all  was  "  aready." 

It  was  not  a  very  successful  feast.  The 
luscious  honey  went  unappreciated,  and 
the  biscuits  were  only  nibbled  at,  much 
to  Janet's  disgust. 

Conversation  languished  and  a  feeling 
of  constraint  settled  down  upon  them 
all.  The  guests  were  not  at  their  ease. 
They  had  come,  expecting  to  be  received 
with  gratitude,  such  as  a  ship-wrecked 
man  would  show  the  bright- winged  birds 
that  brought  him  tidings  of  the  world 
beyond.  But  they  had  found  a  woman 
proudly  content,  who  seemed  to  have 
fallen  in  love  with  her  exile,  and  lost  the 
sense  of  all  of  which  she  had  been  robbed. 

They  did  not  linger  long  after  the  sim 
ple  repast  was  over,  and,  just  as  the 
young  moon  rose  the  coach  drew  up  be 
fore  the  veranda. 

"  It's  going  to  be  a  divine  night ;  let's 
drive  home  the  longest  way,"  cried  one 
of  the  girls. 


THE  TOUCH  OF  NATURE.  2OI 

"  Can't!  Have  a  dinner  on  hand  for 
eight,"  said  another. 

"  So  have  I — do  hurry,  Ned,"  urged  a 
third,  as  Darnley  sprang  to  his  seat. 

"Well,  good-bye!  good-bye!"  came 
the  chorus  of  voices,  and  some  one  blew 
the  bugle  in  a  parting  salute. 

Tom  and  his  wife  stood  within  the 
shadows  of  the  deserted  porch,  listening 
to  the  voices  and  roll  of  the  wheels  until 
they  died  away  in  the  distance,  and  a 
sweet  quiet  fell  upon  the  drowsy  land. 
Then  she  drew  a  long  breath,  and  raised 
her  face  to  his. 

"I  can  almost  hear  the  stillness,"  she 
said,  softly.  "How  good  it  seems  after 
all  that  endless  chatter  and  fuss!" 

He  looked  at  her  tenderly. 

' '  You  have  been  a  brave  little  woman 
to-day,"  he  answered.  "  They  carne  here 
to  patronize  and  condole,  and  they  went 
away  thinking  you  were  content,  and 
had  nothing  to  regret.  I  alone  knew  how 
the  contrast  of  your  present  simple  life 
hurt  you " 


202  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 

"  O  hush  !"  she  cried.  "  Why  are  you 
so  blind?  Can't  you  see  that  I  am  not 
the  same  woman  I  was  in  those  old  days  ? 
Didn't  you  hear  me  tell  Grace  Osborne 
that  I  loved  this  little  home,  and  that  I 
loved " 

She  broke  off  suddenly,  and  he  drew 
closer  to  her  side. 

"You  loved?"  he  asked,  breathlessly. 

"You!"  she  whispered,  with  a  half- 
smothered  sob. 

"O,  child!"  he  murmured,  drawing 
her  to  him.  "  Have  I  won  you  back  to 
me  again?" 

The  shadows  fell  about  them,  and  the 
moonbeams  silvered  the  world  as  if  the 
heavens  smiled  upon  so  rare  a  happiness. 

"  How  is  it  that  you  have  forgiven 
me?"  he  asked  at  last,  gently  lifting  her 
face  to  his. 

"  I  don't  know,"  she  whispered,  smil 
ing  through  her  tears.  "  I  think  it  was 
the  touch  of  nature  that  healed  my  world- 
sick  soul. 


BARBARA'S  EMANCIPATION.      203 


BARBARA'S   EMANCIPATION. 


was  drawning  over 
sleepy  earth  the  soft  gray  cur 
tains  of  twilight.  The  birds 
twittered  drowsily  to  each  other,  and  the 
butterflies  kissed  the  roses  in  fond  good 
night. 

Suddenly  the  still  repose  of  the  garden 
was  broken  by  a  rush  of  feet,  and  a  flutter 
of  short  skirts,  as  a  tall  boy  dashed  up  to 
a  giant  old  oak,  and,  throwing  his   arms 
about  its  trunk,  cried,  breathlessly  : 
"  I  told  you  so  !  Pooh,  you  can't  run  !" 
The  short  skirts  now  reached  the  same 
spot. 

"  I  can  run  !  You  know  I  beat  you 
once,  and  I  would  this  time  if  it  wasn't 
for  these  nasty  skirts  that  twist  around 
my  legs !" 

Leonard     laughed.      "  You're     nice 


204  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 

enough  for  a  girl,  Bab,"  he  said,  adding, 
lest  so  much  praise  might  be  injudicious, 
"but  you  are  only  a  girl." 

Barbara  threw  herself  on  the  grass. 
She  was  hot,  tired  and  defeated.  "  I 
hate  you!"  was  all  she  found  to  say, 
hiding  her  flushed  face,  and  beginning  to 
cry. 

Leonard  looked  at  her  in  disgust. 
"There!  that's  just  like  a  girl,  as  soon 
as  you  get  beaten  you  begin  to  squeal. 
You're  a  regular  cry-baby,  you  are !" 
and  stuffing  his  hands  into  his  trousers 
pockets,  he  trudged  off,  whistling,  leav 
ing  Barbara  to  sob  out  her  woe  to  the 
stars,  as  they  twinkled  at  her  from  behind 
the  cloud  curtains. 

Poor  little  Bab !  Her  one  ambition  was 
to  subdue  the  play-fellow  whose  superior 
powers  were  at  once  her  delight  and  her 
despair,  and  this  last  defeat,  .with  the 
taunt  he  had  delivered  as  a  parting  shot, 
filled  her  cup  of  bitterness. 

That  night  she  lay  awake  a  long  time, 
thinking  out  a  plan  which  would  rein- 


BARBARA'S  EMANCIPATION.      205 

state  her  in  Leo's  good  opinion,  and  fill 
him  with  admiration  and  envy,  and  before 
the  dew  was  off  the  flowers  the  next 
morning,  she  was  out  in  search  of  him, 
eager  to  put  her  new  idea  into  execution. 

She  found  him  seated  astride  a  box  in 
the  orchard,  whittling  and  whistling. 
He  looked  up  as  she  approached,  but  she 
checked  any  reference  to  her  defeat  of 
the  previous  evening  by  saying  : 

"I'm  going  to  ring  the  chapel  bell! 
Do  you  want  to  come  and  hear  me?" 

"Ho,  ho!"  laughed  Leo.  "You're 
too  much  of  a  'fraid  cat  to  do  that ;  it's 
all  bats  and  spiders  up  there." 

Barbara  shuddered  inwardly,  but  did 
not  reply  as  she  led  the  way  to  the 
chapel,  which  had  long  been  left  to  the 
ravages  of  time,  and  now  served  as  a 
monastery  for  bats  and  owls. 

Leo  had  often  been  tempted  to  ring  the 
old  bell,  but  had  never  dared  risk  his 
weight  upon  the  worm-eaten  ladders, 
and  his  respect  for  Barbara  grew  momen 
tarily,  as  she  persevered  in  the  dangerous 


2C)6  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 

feat.  Rung  after  rung  creaked  under 
her  feet,  and  her  light  figure  swayed 
uncertainly  with  the  bending  ladder. 
Cobwebs  brushed  her  face  and  clung  to 
her  hair,  while  big  bats  flapped  their 
wings  over  her  head,  but  a  glance  at  the 
face  below  gave  her  fresh  courage  and 
at  last  she  reached  the  bell. 

Leo  followed  her  with  his  eyes,  hardly 
daring  to  breathe,  but  at  last  a  dull  dong- 
dong  creaked  out  from  the  rusty  old  bell 
that  had  been  dumb  for  years,  and  he 
threw  his  hat  into  the  air,  crying : 
"  Hurrah  !  Bab,  you're  a  brick  ;  I  didn't 
believe  you'd  do  it !" 

Triumphant  and -applauded  Barbara 
looked  down  at  him  from  her  perch : 
"Who's  a 'fraid  cat  now?"  she  cried, 
but  as  the  words  left  her  lips,  the  rotten 
timber  gave  way  beneath  her  weight  and 
she  fell  heavily  to  the  ground  at  Leo's 
feet. 

He  shook  her,  calling  her  name  in 
terror,  but  she  gave  no  sign  of  life,  and, 


BARBARA'S  EMANCIPATION.      207 

trembling  with  fear,  he  lifted  her  in  his 
arms  and  carried  her  home. 

Mrs.  Stanley  saw  them  from  the 
window,  and  soon  the  house  was  all  con 
fusion.  Dr.  Blick,  however,  brought 
relief  by  assuring  them  that  no  more 
serious  damage  was  done  than  a  sprained 
ankle,  and  when  Bab  regained  conscious 
ness,  it  was  to  find  herself  a  prisoner  of 
the  couch. 

Her  rash  venture  had  cost  her  dear, 
and,  of  course,  she  cried  ;  Leo  said  girls 
always  did!  Mamma's  comforting  only 
made  things  worse,  so  Leo  was  sum 
moned,  and  came  in  looking  shy  and 
sheepish.  He  had  been  commanded  to 
comfort  her,  so  he  said  : 

"  I  say,  Bab,  you're  a  regular  trump, 
you  are,  and  you  stumped  me,  you  know  ; 
I  was  afraid  to  do  it." 

At  these  words,  Barbara's  tear-wet 
face  emerged  into  rainbow  smiles. 

"  Really?  You  mean  that,  and  you'll 
never,  never  call  me  a  cry-baby  again?" 
she  asked. 


2O8  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 

"No,  criss-cross  my  heart,"  answered 
Leo,  and  Bab  was  satisfied. 

But  as  the  summer  days  rolled  by,  while 
she  lay  on  the  couch  or  hobbled  painfully 
about,  she  thought  the  price  for  her  satis 
faction  a  heavy  one.  Leo  was  very 
good — on  rainy  days,  that  is  ;  but  when 
the  sun  shown  and  the  birds  sang,  Nature 
called  him  to  come  forth  and  be  one  with 
it,  and  he  obeyed  the  call. 

One  day  as  Barbara  lay  on  her  couch, 
she  heard  her  mother  saying  : 

"My  dear  Clara,  I  can  not  bring  my 
self  to  see  the  subject  in  anything  but  a 
ridiculous  light.  You  know  I  think  we 
women  have  already  power  enough,  for, 
if  men  govern  the  world,  we  rule  them 
by  love?  A  woman's  influence  is  limit 
less,  it  is  God-given,  and  it  ought  to  be 
all-sufficient  for  her  needs." 

Clara  rose  to  leave.  "It  is  just  such 
women  as  yourself  that  are  detaining  our 
march  to  freedom.  I  have  no  patience 
with  your  blind  content,"  she  exclaimed. 

Mrs.  Stanley  was    smiling    when    she 


BARBARA'S  EMANCIPATION.      209 

returned  to  the  room  after  bidding  her 
friend  good-bye,  and  Barbara  claimed 
her  attention  at  once,  demanding  an 
explanation  of  the  subject  of  woman's 
emancipation.  She  was  delighted  with 
it  and  saw  glorious  visions  of  the  future, 
when  she  should  rise  to  Leonard's  level. 

"  How  long  will  it  take  to  come  true  ?" 
she  asked. 

But  her  mother  only  laughed,  and  said 
she  hoped  it  would  never  come  true. 

"  Well,  I'll  get  emancipated  as  soon 
as  I  can  and  wear  trousers,  and  have 
short  hair  and  ride  my  pony  straddle,  and 
beat  Leo  at  everything,"  Barbara  de 
clared. 

"  Wait  and  see,"  was  all  her  mother 
answered,  but  she  smiled  to  herself  as 
she  spoke. 

So  the  days  rolled  on  until  Bab  could 
walk  about  as  well  as  ever,  and  then  a 
dark  cloud  rose  over  her  skies,  for  Leo 
was  to  be  sent  across  the  seas  to  Oxford, 
and  she  would  not  see  him  for  many 
long  years. 


2IO  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 

The  decision  was  sudden  and  the  de 
parture  came  quickly  on  its  heels,  so, 
before  Barbara  realized  all  it  meant,  the 
good-bye  morning  arrived,  and  she  and 
Leo  were  together  for  the  last  time. 

She  clung  to  him,  while  he  stood 
straight  and  awkward  in  her  embrace  ; 
and,  of  course,  she  cried,  though  Leo 
wished  she  wouldn't,  because  it  made 
his  own  throat  feel  so  lumpy.  Finally, 
he  made  an  effort  to  put  an  end  to  the 
shower. 

"  O,  I  say,  Bab !  Never  mind.  Just 
you  get  emancipated  while  I  am  gone, 
and  then  knock  me  out  every  round 
when  I  come  back." 

This  brightened  her,  even  in  the  present 
crisis. 

"That's  what  I'll  do,  Leo;  just  you 
wait  and  see,"  she  cried. 

Leo  seized  this  opportuniny  to  beat  a 
retreat,  and  turning  round  in  the  carriage 
waved  his  hat  at  the  forlorn  little  girl 
who  followed  him  with  tearful  eyes  until 
he  was  borne  out  of  sight. 


BARBARA'S  EMANCIPATION.      211 

But  the  picture  she  made  dwelt  with 
him  through  the  years  that  followed,  and 
the  memory  of  that  loving  farewell  kept 
guard  at  the  door  of  his  heart. 


212  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 


CHAPTER  II. 


"  O,  mamma,  just  think  !  dear  old  Leo 
is  coming  back  at  last ;  why,  he  must  be 
here  now !" 

"What  are  you  talking  about,  Bar 
bara?"  said  Mrs.  Stanley,  glancing  across 
the  breakfast-table  to  the  flushed  face 
opposite. 

"About  Leo;  this  letter  has  been 
delayed  and  he  says  he  will  be  here  by 
the  fifteenth ;  that  was  yesterday,  so  he 
may  drop  down  on  us  at  any  moment !" 

"  I  hope  you  won't  quarrel  as  you  used 
to  do." 

"  Oh  no,  I'm  too  old  to  be  teased  now," 
said  Barbara. 

"  I  don't  know  about  that,"  answered 
her  mother,  smiling  quizzically. 

"  But  I  am  going  to  be  very  dignified, 
and  show  him  that  I  am  a  grown  woman 


BARBARA'S  EMANCIPATION.      213 

and  not  a  silly  girl  any  more.  He  told  me 
to  get  '  emancipated'  when  he  left,  and 
I'm  going  to  show  him  that  I  am  !" 

"Ah,  Barbara,  that's  the  same  spirit 
which  made  you  climb  the  belfry  six 
years  ago.  Don't  let  it  bring  you  to  grief 
as  it  did  then." 

"  How  could  it?"  she  asked,  pushing 
back  her  chair. 

"Come,  Don,  we  must  go  for  a  run, 
you  lazy  dog  ;  the  birds  are  calling  to  us." 

Outside,  in  the  sweet-scented  garden, 
the  sunbeams  welcomed  her  as  one  of 
themselves ;  kissing  her  cheeks  into 
blushes  and  touching  her  hair  with  warm 
caresses. 

"  O!  it's  so  good  to  be  alive,  Don," 
she  whispered,  lifting  her  head  to  greet 
the  breezes.  "  This  is  where  we  used  to 
play  together,  Leo  and  I.  You  were 
only  a  puppy  then,  Don,  so  you  can't 
remember,  but  I  do  !  This  old  cherry  tree 
was  our  favorite  place,  and  we  would  sit 
on  that  stone  wall  while  we  ate  the  cher 
ries  we  had  picked.  There  are  some  up 


214  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 

there  now,  and  I'm  going  to  get  them  for 
the  sake  of  old  times." 

She  gathered  her  skirts  about  her  and 
began  the  ascent,  reaching  the  top  of  the 
wall  at  last,  breathless,  torn  and  dishev 
eled.  "  O  !  how  much  easier  it  used  to 
be,"  she  cried.  "  Don,  you  keep  watch 
below ;  I  wouldn't  be  caught  like  this 
for  anything." 

The  cherries  were  as  good  as  of  old, 
however,  and  Barbara  was  enjoying  them 
to  her  heart's  content  when  the  dog 
startled  her  by  springing  to  his  feet  with 
a  low  growl. 

"  Don  !"  she  cried,  nervously. 

"Don't  be  frightened,  it  is  only  I," 
answered  a  reassuring  voice,  as  a  young 
man  emerged  from  the  shadows.  "Your 
mother  told  me  I  should  find  you  here." 

Barbara's  head  swam.  "Leo?"  she 
asked,  faintly. 

"Of  course ;  I  hope  you  don't  need  an 
introduction?  I  should  have  known  you 
anywhere,  but  it  seems  especially  natural 
to  find  you — up  there  !" 


BARBARA'S  EMANCIPATION.      215 

The  girl's  cheeks  burned.  She  gathered 
her  fallen  hair  in  one  hand  and  drew  her 
feet  under  her  torn  gown.  It  was  too 
provoking  to  be  caught  like  this,  when 
she  had  planned  to  meet  him  in  all  the 
new  dignity  of  her  womanhood.  She 
caught  the  old  teasing  twinkle  in  Leo's 
eyes,  and  it  was  more  than  she  could 
bear. 

"  It's  hateful  of  you  to  steal  on  me  like 
this,"  she  burst  forth.  "You  are  just 
the  same  horrid  boy  you  used  to  be  !" 

"  Leo  leaned  against  the  tree.  "  You 
didn't  use  to  think  me  horrid,  though. 
I  remember  when  you  bade  me  good- 
bye-" 

"  O  !  how  rude  of  you  to  remind  me 
of  that!" 

"I  wouldn't  mention  rudeness  if  I 
were  you,"  he  continued.  "  You  have 
abused  me  ever  since  I  appeared  and 
after  an  absence  of  six  years,  and  con 
sidering  I  have  come  so  many  miles  to 
see  you — " 


2l6  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 

"To  see  me  !"  she  interrupted,  scorn 
fully. 

"  And,  as  I  said  before,  considering 
the  fon-d  hopes  which  your  affectionate 
farewell  gave — " 

An  exclamation  of  anger  interrupted 
him. 

"Well?"   he  asked. 

"  Go  away  !"   she  said. 

"  Why,  I  have  just  come,  and  if  you 
could  see  yourself,  you  would  understand 
the  reason  I  enjoy  staying!  The  pictur 
esque  disorder  of  your  hair  is " 

"  Will  you  go?" 

"I'm  sorry  to  disoblige  you,  but  I 
really  can't  tear  myself  away,"  he  said, 
laughing  up  into  her  angry  face. 

"Then  I  shall!" 

"  Take  care,"  he  cried,  but  her  impet 
uous  movement  loosened  the  stones  be 
neath  her,  and  she  was  precipitated  into 
his  arms,  an  ignominious  bundle  of  torn 
clothes,  roughened  hair  and  fallen  pride. 

She    struggled  to   free  herself,  but  he 


BARBARA'S  EMANCIPATION.      217 

would  not  loose  his  clasp.  "Don't  be 
angry,  little  Bab,"  he  whispered. 

"Let  me  go!"  she  cried. 

"Not  till  you  have  given  me  a  welcome 
home,"  he  answered. 

"Well— what  shall  I  say?"  she  asked. 

"  Don't  say  anything;  just  look  up  at 
me." 

"  I  will,  if  you  let  me  go." 

"  Don't  bargain,  look  at  me  !" 

"  I  won't  till  you  let  me  go!" 

"  And  I  won't  do  that  till  you  look  at 
me!" 

"Then  we'll  have  to  stay  here  forever !" 
she  cried. 

He  laughed  again.  "  I  don't  mind," 
he  said. 

The  moments  dragged  by.  Don 
snapped  at  a  fly,  and  startled  Barbara 
with  the  fear  that  some  one  was  coming 
to  catch  them  in  this  absurd  position.  She 
made  one  more  effort  to  free  herself,  but 
in  vain. 

"  Leo,   you   ought  to  be    ashamed  of 


2l8  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 

yourself.  Let  me  go !  "  she  cried,  the 
angry  tears  filling  her  eyes. 

"I  am  only  waiting  for  you,  Bab, 
why  are  you  so  afraid  to  look  at  me?" 

"I'm  not  afraid!"  she  asserted. 

"  Then  prove  it." 

"Will you  let  me  go  if  I  do  !" 

"Surely  !" 

"  Well  then — there !  "  Her  eyes  met 
his  at  last,  and  a  moment  later  she  fled 
from  him  with  burning  cheeks.  "  How 
did  he  dare  ?"  she  whispered  to  herself. 
' '  Oh  !  the  wretch  ! ' '  She  tried  to  slip  up 
to  her  room  unseen,  but  her  mother 
caught  her  as  she  was  running  upstairs. 

"  Did  you  see  Leo,  my  dear?  I  sent 
him  to  find  you  an  hour  ago." 

"  Yes,  I  saw  him." 

"Then  why  didn't  you  bring  him  back 
with  you.  Why  child,  what  makes  your 
face  so  red?" 

"  It's — it's  so  warm,"  murmured  Bab, 
confusedly,  and  vanished  upstairs  to  hide 
herself  from  questioning  eyes. 

An  hour  later  she  emerged  from  her 


BARBARA'S  EMANCIPATION.      219 

room,  with  cooled  cheeks  and  a  determi 
nation  to  revenge  herself  upon  the  pre 
suming  old  playfellow.  She  felt  she  had 
made  a  bad  beginning  in  the  renewal  of 
the  friendship,  and  she  was  angry  with 
herself  and  him.  As  the  days  rolled  on, 
however,  she  found  it  almost  impossible 
to  avoid  him  for  her  mother  always  wel 
comed  him  with  cordial  affection,  and 
encouraged  his  frequent  visits. 


220  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 


CHAPTER  III. 


"I  have  asked  Leo  to  dine  with  us  to 
night,  Barbara,"  Mrs.  Stanley  said,  one 
afternoon  at  luncheon.  "  He  has  grown 
to  be  such  a  charming  fellow,  that  I  feel 
as  if  we  did  not  see  half  enough  of  him." 

Barbara  fidgeted.  "But  why  did  you 
have  to  ask  him  to  take  dinner  with  us?" 
she  asked. 

"My  dear  child,  it  is  the  least  I  can 
do— you  seem  to  forget  he  has  been  away 
six  years.  What  is  the  trouble?  Are 
you  sorry  he  has  returned?" 

"N — no;  that  is — I  think  I  liked  his 
letters  better!" 

"  I  don't  wonder  you  miss  those  charm 
ing  weekly  budgets."  Mrs.  Stanley  ob 
served.  "They  have  been  almost  as  good 
as  being  with  Leo  himself  all  these  years, 
and  have  helped  you  to  keep  pace  with 


BARBARA'S  EMANCIPATION.      221 

the  change  in  his  character  that  time  has 
brought  about." 

"  I  think  his  character  has  deteriora 
ted,"  said  Barbara,  lifting  her  chin  in  the 
air.  but  her  mother  laughed. 

"Nonsense!"  she  answered. 

When  Barbara  came  down  stairs  that 
evening  she  wore  a  black  satin  dinner 
gown  that  added  ten  years  to  her  age, 
and  her  hair  was  piled  high  upon  her  head. 
During  dinner  she  was  unusually  silent, 
and  amused  Leo  by  the  dignity  she  as 
sumed. 

"  Do  you  still  believe  in  the  emancipa 
tion  of  women?"  he  asked,  as  they  rose 
from  the  table.  "  I  remember  your  ideas 
of  old,  especially  the  attractive  costume 
you  proposed  to  adopt." 

Barbara  flushed  with  annoyance. 
"  Those  were  the  wild  absurdities  of  a 
child,"  she  said.  "  Of  course  I  don't 
advocate  masculine  attire,  but  I  most 
certainly  do  believe  that  men  must  yield 
us  our  rightful  place  at  their  side,  and, 
though  you  laugh  now,  I  am  positive  our 


222  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 

day  is  coming,  and  we  will  do  wonders 
then!" 

Leo  laughed.  "I  don't  doubt  that; 
women  are  great  wonder-workers,"  he 
said. 

"  She  will  accomplish  her  work  not  as 
a  woman,  but  as  an  intellect " 

"  Heaven  forbid,"  he  murmured,  and 
Mrs.  Stanley  exclaimed  :  "Do  stop  talk 
ing  nonsense,  Barbara,  my  dear,  and  give 
us  some  music." 

The  girl  shrugged  her  shoulders,  but 
seated  herself  obediently.  "  What  shall 
it  be?"  she  asked. 

" '  Love's  old  Sweet  Song,'  "  suggested 
Leo,  smiling  into  the  face  so  near  him, 
but  she  would  not  meet  his  eyes,  and 
began  a  difficult  fugue  which  left  no  room 
for  sentiment.  This  new  Barbara  amused 
him  for  one  evening,  but  as  the  days 
went  by  without  bringing  a  change,  he 
began  to  lose  patience.  Had  it  not  been 
for  the  scene  in  the  garden  he  would 
have  feared  that  the  Barbara  of  old  was 
lost  in  the  present  unapproachable  young 


BARBARA'S  EMANCIPATION.      223 

woman,  but  the  memory  of  her  eyes  that 
morning  gave  him  hope,  and  day  after 
day  he  strove  to  break  down  the  wall  she 
had  built  about  herself. 

At  last  the  dread  that  she  really  dis 
liked  him  grew  in  his  heart,  but,  though 
suspense  was  well  nigh  unbearable,  he 
sought  in  vain  for  an  opportunity  to  put 
his  fate  to  the  test. 

One  afternoon,  when  Nature  seemed 
hushed  to  sleep  by  the  drowsy  lullabies 
of  myriad-winged  creatures,  Leo  lounged 
aimlessly  under  the  leafy  shade,  recalling 
old  memories  which  the  scene  brought 
back  to  him. 

Here  it  was  that  Bab  and  he  used  to 
picnic  with  goodies  stolen  from  the 
pantry  shelves,  and  over  yonder  was  the 
old  chapel  where  she  had  nearly  lost  her 
life  in  the  effort  to  win  his  approval. 
Poor  little  maid !  He  had  been  rough 
and  unkind  to  her  in  those  old  days,  but 

now "  ah,  Bab  !  You  are  more  than 

avenged  upon  me,"  he  said,  aloud. 

"How  am  I   avenged?"  demanded  a 


224  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 

voice  behind  him,  and  he  turned  to  find 
himself  face  to  face  with  the  object  of  his 
soliloquy. 

"  Shall  I  tell  you?"  he  cried. 

"No,  no!"  she  said,  retreating.  "I 
don't  want  to  know.  After  all,  I — I  feel 
sure  it  would  not  interest  me!" 

"  But  you  shall  listen.  You  have  tor 
mented  me  long  enough.  Barbara,  I " 

Barbara  turned  and  fled. 

"  She  sha'n't  escape  me  this  time,"  he 
exclaimed,  and  started  after  her  in  hot 
pursuit. 

Away  they  went,  over  the  flower-kissed 
meadows  in  as  mad  a  race  as  of  old,  and, 
as  in  those  days  of  childhood,  Leo  out  ran 
Bab. 

"  There  !"  he  panted,  as  he  caught  and 
held  her  firmly.  "  I  have  won  another 
race,  and  you — you  yourself  are  the  goal. 
O,  Bab!  why  did  you  run  away  from 
me?" 

She  was  too  breathless  to  reply. 

"  Is  it  because  you  dislike  me — have  I 


BARBARA'S  EMANCIPATION.      225 

changed — or — Barbara  !  do  you  love  some 
one  else?" 

Her  hands  fluttered  in  his  like  fright 
ened  birds. 

"  I  don't  love  any  one,"  she   faltered. 

"  You  must  love  me,"  he  cried.  "Don't 
you  know  that  the  thought  of  you  has 
been  my  guiding  star  all  these  years? 
Don't  you  know  the  memory  of  my  little 
Barbara  has  kept  me  true,  so  that  I  could 
come  back  and  not  be  afraid  to  have  her 
read  my  heart?  Oh,  Bab!  don't  say  you 
can't  love  me — I  couldn't  bear  it !" 

She  drew  her  hands  from  his.  "  I  don't 
hate  you,  but " 

"Don't  say  '  but,'  "  he  exclaimed. 

"What  shall  I  say?"  she  asked. 

"  Say  '  I  love  you  !'  "  he  pleaded. 

She  walked  a  short  distance  from  him 
and  then  paused. 

"  Are  you  sure  you  think  I  am  as  good, 
as  clever  as  any  man  ?"  she  asked. 

"  Don't  trifle,  Barbara." 

"  Answer  me,"  she  insisted. 

"  Yes,  yes,  of  course.     You  are  as  far 


226  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 

above  every  man  as  an  angel  could  be,"  he 
replied,  coming  nearer. 

"  Do  you  think  me  a  hoidenish  school- 
girl?" 

"  Absurd !"  he  exclaimed,  impatiently. 

"Do  you?" 

"  No,  no!  you  are  the  most  charming 
woman  on  earth,"  and  he  drew  close  to 
her  side. 

"  Will  you  promise  never,  never  to 
tease  me  again,  or — or " 

"  Barbara!  you  are  crying  !"  he  cried, 
and  caught  her  in  his  arms. 

"Well,"  she  murmured,  after  a  pause, 
"  it's  nothing  new  for  you  to  make  me 
cry.  You  always  did." 

"But  I  never  will  again,"  he  said. 
"  The  old  days  of  tyranny  are  over,  and 
you  are  my  queen  now,  little  Bab,  so 
I  will  obey  you  as  a  faithful  subject 
should." 

Barbara  crept  closer  to  his  side. 

"Ah!  but  my  great  plans  for  the 
emancipation  of  women?"  she  sighed. 

Leo  laughed  softly. 


BARBARA'S  EMANCIPATION.      227 

"What  more  can  you  what  than  to 
conquer  the  conquerer?"  he  asked. 
"Isn't  that  victory  enough  ?" 

"  Ah  !  but  it  was  love  that  did  it,"  she 
sighed  again. 

"  Are  you  not  glad?"  he  whispered. 

And  the  sunbeams  laughed  as  they 
heard  her  murmur  "Yes!" 


228  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 


A  TWENTIETH  CENTURY  ROMANCE. 


(HE  stood  surrounded  by  a  group 
of  black-coated  men,  like  some 
pink-lipped  marquerite,  blos 
soming  midst  meadow  weeds. 

"You  need  not  look  as  if  you  were 
sorry,"  she  was  saying.  "You  know  you 
will  all  forget  me  a  month  after  I  have 
gone!" 

"That's  like  a  woman's  ingratitude," 
cried  one.  "Here  we've  been  dancing 
attendance  upon  Miss  Elizabeth  Dare 
since  she  first  'budded.'  I  dare  say  every 
man-jack  of  us  has  proposed  at  least  once, 
and  now  she  accuses  us  of  fickleness  and 
insincerity!" 

The  girl  shrugged  her  shoulders.  "It's 
no  such  great  honor  to  have  you  propose  ; 
that  is  just  a  little  habit  you  have  of  en 
couraging  each  'bud'  as  she  appears. 


A  TWENTIETH  CENTURY  ROMANCE.      22p 

What  would  you  do,  though,  if  some  'in 
nocent'  should  really  accept  you  ?" 

"  No  use  arguing,  Dan  ;  a  woman  will 
have  the  last  word — even  the  'new  wo 
man'  refuses  to  let  go  that  inheritance 
from  mother  Eve!" 

"They  are  no  good,  anyway,"  Dan  as 
serted,  angrily. 

Miss  Dare  laughed.  "Don't  be  rude. 
I'll  give  you  this  two  step  if  you  want  it 
and  will  promise  not  to  be  cross  to  me." 

"  Thanks,  no  !"  he  answered,  bowing 
mockingly.  "Dick  Osprey's  name  is  on 
your  card  for  this,  and  I  see  him  plowing 
his  way  toward  you  over  toes  and  trailing 
gowns.  I  don't  care  to  meet  Dick  in  a 
duel,  even  for  your  sake  !" 

She  turned  to  meet  Osprey,  and 
as  she  took  his  offered  arm,  a  tall, 
slender  man  of  about  thirty,  with  soft, 
brown  hair  and  quizzical  eyes  brushed 
past  them,  nodding  to  her  carelessly  in 
nonchalant  greeting. 

The  light  suddenly  went  out  from  her 
face,  and  her  gaze  followed  the  debonair 


230  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 

form  until  it  was  lost  in  the  crowded 
rooms. 

"  What  a  detestable  jam  !"  she  said  in 
a  tired  voice.  "It's  impossible  to  dance 
here !" 

"  Let's  go  into  the  library,  then— aw 
fully  jolly  place  there  ;  they've  fixed  it  all 
up  for  spoons,"  suggested  her  companion. 

"  But  we  are  not  'spoons,'  "  was  the 
irritated  reply.  He  glanced  down  at  her 
whimsically.  "No,  but  that  is  your  fault," 
he  ventured. 

"  Naturally,  you  would  flirt  with  any 
one  ;  quality  is  not  important !" 

He  whistled  softly,  but  did  not  speak 
till  they  were  cosily  hidden  behind  one 
of  the  nooks  of  palms  in  the  library. 

"  Everything  is  all  wrong  with  you 
to-night,  Beth,  what's  the  trouble,  any 
way?" 

His  question  let  loose  the  pent-up  feel 
ings  and  she  broke  forth,  impetuously  : 

"  Oh  !  To-morrow  I  leave  this  place. 
It's  been  'home'  to  me  always,  yet,  I 
know  that  no  one  is  really  very  deeply 


A  TWENTIETH  CENTURY  ROMANCE.      23! 

sorry  to  have  me  go.  No  one  will  miss 
me.  No  one  will  fall  asleep  longing  to 
see  me,  or  wake  in  the  morning  sad 
dened  because  I  am  no  longer  here  !  It 
will  be  the  same  in  New  York,  too.  I 
will  make  many  'friends'  (so-called)  and 
be  very  gay,  but  there  will  be  no  one  to 
care !  I  am  not  to  blame,  people  are 
not  to  blame ;  it  is  because  we  all  lead 
such  unreal  lives  that  this  is  so  !  Society 
does  not  love,  nor  feel,  nor  think  !  There 
are  so  many  of  us  in  her  ranks  that,  when 
one  sinks,  or  drops  out,  the  human  tide 
sweeps  over  them  instantly,  and  their 
places  are  filled.  They  are  forgotten ! 
No  one  has  time  to  remember !  We  are 
so  gay,  so  busy  with  pleasure.  There  are 
so  many  to  laugh  with  you,  but  none  to 
weep  !  Oh,  I'm  sick  of  it  all !  I  wish 
Daddy  and  I  were  going  to  some  quiet 
place  where  we  could  lead  real  lives 
among  people  who  lived  and  loved,  suf 
fered  and  enjoyed.  I  am  sick  of  all  this 
glitter,  as  a  child  that  has  nauseated  itself 
on  candies!"  She  paused  abruptly,  as 


232  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 

if  remembering  she  but  wasted  words, 
and  sighed  restlessly. 

Her  companion  looked  uncomfortable  ; 
this  was  so  unlike  her,  and  he  felt  con 
fused. 

"  Ah,  well !  It's  not  quite  as  bad  as  all 
that,  you  know,"  he  began,  soothingly. 
"  You  are  all  upset  to-night,  you  see,  and 
things  look  queered.  But  just  think  of 
the  chaps  that  can't  get  into  our  crowd 
and  who  would  think  it  was  cheese  and 
pie  to  have  cards  to  this  ball,  don't  you 
know?"  He  laughed.  "That's  the  way 
to  feel  contented  with  your  lot — to  look 
at  the  poor  devils  who  can't  get  where 
you  are,  don't  you  know?" 

She  broke  into  a  short  laugh.  "  True, 
I  had  forgotten!  What's  the  joke?" 
drawled  a  lazy  voice  near  by,  and  she 
raised  her  head  eagerly. 

"  Dick  has  been  giving  me  a  lesson  in 
social  ethics,"  she  answered,  looking  up 
into  the  face  above  her  with  an  expres 
sion,  which  anything— short  of  a  man — 
could  have  read  at  a  glance. 


A  TWENTIETH  CENTURY  ROMANCE.      233 

"Yes,  Beth  got  on  the  war-path. 
Rather  scared  me,  byjove!  You  ought 
to  have  seen  her,  Mont.  But  I  brought 
her  to  reason,  all  right,"  he  added. 

"  Good  for  you,  Dickie !  The  man 
who  can  bring  a  woman  to  reason  has 

"Not  been  born  !"  broke  in  the  girl's 
voice,  mockingly. 

Dick  rose.  "  She's  too  much  for  me, 
to-night ;  see  what  you  can  do  with  her, 
Mont !"  and  he  moved  away  with  a 
laugh. 

Montgomery  Blair  settled  himself 
comfortably  in  the  vacated  seat.  "  This 
is  nice ! "  he  sighed,  resting  his  head 
against  the  pillows  at  his  back,  and  gaz 
ing  at  her  with  his  peculiarly  winning 
smile.  "I'm  glad  to  get  the  chance  of  a 
little  farewell  chat  with  you.  When  do 
you  go?  To-morrow?" 

She  turned  away  from  him,  and  was 
pulling  to  pieces  the  green  leaves  at  her 
side.  She  nodded  assent  to  his  question 
without  speaking,  and  he  idly  watched 
her  work  of  destruction  as  he  talked  on. 


234  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 

"  It's  hard  on  us  fellows  to  have  you 
go,  you  know.  You  are  far  and  away  the 
jolliest  girl  in  the  crowd.  It  will  seem 
beastly  queer  not  to  find  you  on  the 
links  this  spring, — you  and  I  make  such 
a  team  at  golf,  you  know.  I  don't  sup 
pose  you  will  take  a  run  out  to  Water- 
bridge  this  summer  ?  That's  bad — thought 
perhaps  I'd  see  you  there,  any  way.  Re 
member  how  I  ran  down  there  every 
Sunday  last  year?  Good  fun,  wasn't  it ; 
remember  that  night  we  got  lost  from 
the  others,  and — oh,  why — I  say — what's 
up,  Beth?" 

She  had  buried  her  face  in  her  hands 
and  was  crying  bitterly,  but  silently. 
Never  before  had  he  seen  her  in  this 
mood.  He  watched  her  in  dismay,  help 
less,  awkward,  sorry,  puzzled,  and  won 
dering  what  he  had  said  to  make  her 
cry.  Always,  during  the  several  seasons, 
he  had  known  her  only  as  a  gay  society 
girl — one  of  the  many  he  knew  and  liked, 
as  he  met  them  upon  the  frothy  crest  of 
the  social  tide.  This  unprecedented  ex- 


A  TWENTIETH  CENTURY  ROMANCE.      235 

perience  left  him  speechless  and  amazed, 
and  at  a  loss  how  to  proceed.  At  last, 
unable  to  bear  the  sobs  which  shook  her 
slender  form  like  a  wind-tossed  flower, 
he  ventured  to  lay  his  hand  lightly  upon 
her  head,  and,  to  his  satisfaction,  this 
proved  a  beneficent  remedy,  for  the  sobs 
gradually  grew  less,  until  they  ceased 
altogether,  and  the  girl  lifted  her  bowed 
head  with  a  nervous  laugh. 

"Here,  take  my  handkerchief — it's 
bigger,"  he  said,  solicitously,  pushing 
his  cambric  into  her  fingers. 

"  Do  you  feel  better  ?"  he  queried 
anxiously,  as  she  handed  it  back  to  him. 

She  laughed  again.  "  Oh,  yes,  I'm  all 
right  now.  Don't  look  so  appalled.  I 
won't  do  it  again.  You  thought  I  could 
only  laugh,  didn't  you?  I'm  sorry  I  was 
such  a  goose  as  to  show  you  I  could  do 
anything  else.  Please  forget  it.  I— I'm 
just  tired,  that  is  all." 

"You  don't  often  do  that,  do  you?"  he 
ventured. 

"Oh!"  she  cried  suddenly.  "You  don't 


236  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 

know  me  at  all!  For  years  we  have 
waltzed  and  golfed  together,  yet  you  are 
as  ignorant  of  the  real  me  as  if  we  had 
never  met!" 

He  looked  sobered,  "  That  is  true, 
Beth,  I  have  never  known  you.  I  wish 
now  that  I  had." 

She  laughed  bitterly.  "  Don't  deceive 
yourself,"  she  answered.  "  You  would 
never  learn  to  know  me  if  we  spent  a 
hundred  seasons  together.  You  could 
never  know  me  any  better  than  you  have 
in  the  past.  It's  impossible  in  the  air  we 
breathe." 

"  I  would  try,"  he  began. 

"  No,  you  wouldn't,"  she  interrupted. 
"You  would  soon  get  bored.  No  one 
can  be  serious  in  cap  and  bells — it  is  out 
of  place.  One  must  laugh  if  one  will  go 
to  the  minstrels.  Even  love — look  how 
we  treat  it — we  marry  for  every  reason 
under  the  sun  but  for  that ! ' ' 

He  smiled.  "  Love  !  It  is  hard  to  think 
of  you  as  falling  a  victim  to  the  little  base 
god,"  he  said. 


A  TWENTIETH  CENTURY  ROMANCE.      237 

She  paled  and  rose  to  her  feet.  "  Of 
course  not.  I  can  neither  love  nor  suffer. 
I  am  only  a  butterfly." 

"  I  didn't  mean "  he  stammered. 

"  Good-night,"  she  interrupted,  "and 
good-bye." 

He  took  her  hands  in  his  as  she  stood 
beside  him.  "Good-night,  Beth.  I'm  a 
clumsy  idiot.  I  seem  to  hurt  you  every 
time  I  speak  to-night,  but,  well,  I  won't 
forget  you,  dear,  and  I  wish  I  had  another 
chance  at  knowing  you !  Good  night, 
don't  have  the  blues.  You  are  really  an 
awfully  lucky  girl,  you  know.  Good 
night,  and  good  luck  to  you." 

"Good-bye,"  she  whispered,  bending 
her  head  to  hide  her  face.  "  Good-bye." 


238  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 


CHAPTER  II. 


In  two  years  there  is  time  for  many 
changes.  Time  for  the  rise  and  fall  of 
nations — time  for  birth  and  death — for 
grief  and  joy — for  all  that  goes  to  make 
up  life  and  history. 

But  the  two  years  that  had  passed 
since  Elizabeth  Dare  departed  to  make 
her  home  in  New  York,  had  left  Mont 
gomery  Blair  as  untouched  as  if  Time 
had  forgotten  him,  and  on  this  December 
morning  he  sat  at  his  desk  with  only  a 
pucker  of  annoyance  to  crease  his  smooth 
brow. 

The  swish  of  silk  skirts  pausing  at  his 
door,  made  him  glance  up. 

"  Heavens  !  What  a  scowl,  dear  boy. 
What's  wrong?" 

He  pointed  to  three  open  letters  before 
him.  "My  morning  mail,"  he  said. 


A  TWENTIETH  CENTURY  ROMANCE.      239 

"  One  is  filled  with  an  account  of  the 
illness  of  a  chap  I  know ;  gone  abroad 
for  his  health.  Another  informs  me  of 
the  death  of  an  old  college  chum  of  mine, 
and  the  third  treats  of  the  loss  of  a  for 
tune !  Nice  lot  of  news,  isn't  it?  Death, 
disease  and  disaster.  Quite  cheering." 

His  sister  laughed.  "  It's  the  way  of 
the  world,  my  love!" 

He  looked  at  the  bright  face  and  richly- 
clad  figure  before  him.  "Not  of  your 
world  !"  he  muttered. 

"  Is  Jack  in  his  office?"  she  ran  on.  "  I 
want  to  see  him.  We  had  an  argument  at 
breakfast.  Jack  says  I  scatter  too  much 
of  his  filthy  lucre.  It's  odd,  isn't  it?  But 
Jack  always  sees  only  my  faults !  I 
have  to  recount  all  my  virtues  for  his 
benefit,  every  now  and  then,  just  to  keep 
him  from  forgetting  I  possess  them.  It's 
so  very  bad  for  a  man  (a  husband)  to  be 
one-sided  in  his  views  of  such  things,  you 
know— it's  apt  to  make  him  narrow  and 
close.  But  he's  had  time  to  digest  the 
long  list  of  my  virtues,  with  which  I 


240  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 

furnished  him  this  morning,  so  I'll  run 
in  to  reap  the  reward  before  he  recovers 
from  the  effect. 

"  I  see — a  check — he's  doomed;  poor 
Jack  !» 

"  By  the  way,  who's  the  friend  who 
lost  the  fortune?"  she  asked,  pausing  on 
the  threshold. 

"  It's  a  girl — Beth  Dare — remember 
her?" 

"  I  should  say  so,  and  how  she  fell  head 
over  heels  in  love  with " 

She  checked  herself  suddenly,  with  a 
laugh. 

"  Beth  in  love?  With  whom,  for  heav 
en's  sake?"  cried  her  brother  in  amaze 
ment. 

"  Oh,  never  mind,  stupid,  she  wasn't 
in  love  with  anybody.  I  was  joking. 
But  I  thought  her  father  went  to  New 
York  to  make  his  everlasting  fortune. 
How  has  she  come  to  grief?" 

He  shook  his  head.  "She  doesn't  ex 
plain  ;  she  only  says  she  finds  herself 
'with  nothing  to  exist  on,'  and  begs  me 


A  TWENTIETH  CENTURY  ROMANCE.      24! 

to  find  her  something  to  do.  Hard  luck, 
isn't  it?  Deuced  awkward,  though. 
What  am  I  to  write  her?  I  don't 
know  of  any  place  where  a  girl  like  that 
could  possibly  be  placed,  do  you,  Reta?" 

She  looked  suddenly  thoughtful.  "I'll 
think  about  it,"  she  answered,  moving 
away,  and  he  heard  her  enter  Jack's  pri 
vate  room,  further  down  the  corridor. 

He  picked  up  the  girl's  letter  and  re 
read  it.  It  ran : 

"  Probably  you  have  forgotten  me, 
but,  yon  see,  I  have  not  lost  sight  of  you, 
and  now  in  my  desperation,  I  turn  to 
you  for  help.  I  find  myself  left  with 
nothing  to  exist  upon,  and  I  want  you  to 
get  me  some  sort  of  work  that  I  can  do. 
I  love  children,  as  you  know,  especially 
boys  and  I  think  a  position  such  as  a 
governess,  or  companion,  to  invalid  or 
delicate  children,  might  be  possible  for 
me.  In  fact,  this  is  the  only  thing  I  am 
at  all  fitted  for.  Perhaps  your  sister, 
Mrs.  Costelli,  might  know  of  some  such 


242  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 

place.     Do  ask  her  about  it  and  let  me 
hear  from  you  soon. 

Yours,  as  of  old, 

"ELIZABETH  DARE." 

"  She  takes  it  most  uncommonly  cool," 
he  muttered,  "most  girls  would  be  in 
tears  over  such  luck,  but  Beth  never  was 
the  'weepy'  kind!" 

Then,  as  if  contradicting  this  thought, 
his  memory  leaped  back  two  years  to  the 
night  they  had  parted  in  the  library,  and 
he  lost  himself  in  a  maze  of  puzzled  con 
jecture.  A  woman's  nature  is  like  a 
Chinese  puzzle  to  the  ordinary  masculine 
intelligence. 

The  closing  of  a  distant  door  roused 
him  from  his  revery.  "  Well?"  he  quer 
ied,  glancing  questioningly  at  his  sister, 
as  she  paused  in  the  open  doorway. 
"  Had  Jack  digested  the  virtues  satisfac 
torily?" 

She  nodded,  waving  a  check  before 
his  eyes. 

"  It's  bigger  than  I  expected.     Jack's 


A  TWENTIETH  CENTURY  ROMANCE.      243 

a  dear,  and  he  says  you  can  write  Miss 
Dare  to  come  to  us  at  once,  to  look  after 
Glendening,  you  know.  Jack's  a  softy 
where  Glen  is  concerned,  and  he  jumped 
at  the  chance  of  getting  such  a  compan 
ion  for  the  poor  boy." 

"  By  jove  !  just  the  thing!  What  a 
dummy  I  was  not  to  think  of  that !  She 
said  she  thought,  perhaps,  you  could  sug 
gest  some  such  place  for  her!" 

An  odd  expression  flitted  over  Mrs. 
Costelli's  face,  and  she  laughed  quizzic 
ally.  "Oh  well,  we  live  in  the  days  of 
'thought  transference',  "  she  said,  gath 
ering  her  skirt  preparatory  to  departure. 
"  You  can  write  her  to  come,  anyway, 
she'll  be  a  God-send  to  our  poor  little  in 
valid.  Tell  her  to  come  when  she  chooses, 
the  sooner  the  better!" 

But  her  brother  paused  twice  as  he 
wrote  the  letter,  to  wonder  why  she  went 
away  with  that  queer  smile  puckering 
her  mouth. 


244  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 


CHAPTER  III. 


A  week  later  found  Montgomery  Blair, 
buttoned  to  the  chin  in  his  big  fur-lined 
overcoat,  pacing  up  and  down  the 
station,  waiting  for  the  express  from 
New  York.  He  smiled  to  himself  in  the 
dark  of  the  winter's  night  at  the  posi 
tion  in  which  he  found  himself,  regard 
ing  his  old  friend.  Unconsciously,  since 
the  arrival  of  that  letter  of  appeal,  he 
had  felt  strangely  responsible  for  the 
weal  or  woe  of  the  girl,  and  the  feeling 
gave  birth  to  an  odd  sort  of  tenderness 
which  surprised  and  made  him  half 
ashamed.  The  plucky  spirit  with  which 
she  faced  misfortune  roused  his  admira 
tion,  and  the  lonely,  forlorn  condition  of 
the  brave  little  woman  touched  the  hid 
den  springs  of  chivalry  in  his  nature, 
and  made  him  vow  within  himself  that 


A  TWENTIETH  CENTURY  ROMANCE.      245 

he  would  do  his  utmost  to  make  her  life 
more  bearable. 

The  shriek  of  the  approaching  train 
put  an  end  to  his  musings,  and  he  tossed 
away  his  cigar  as  the  engine  thundered 
into  the  station. 

As  he  stood,  peering  anxiously  in  the 
wrong  direction,  a  laughing  voice  at  his 
elbow  made  him  glance  down  to  find  the 
object  of  his  search  regarding  him  with 
joyously  dancing  eyes.  He  clasped  her 
hand  warmly,  wondering  at  her  courage 
in  facing  this  new  life. 

"You  are  looking  awfully  well,"  he 
began,  as  they  leaned  back  in  his  sister's 
coupe,  and  the  glad  ring  in  her  answer 
ing  laugh  almost  startled  him.  He  had 
expected,  at  least,  the  gloom  of  a  resigned 
spirit.  All  during  the  drive  home  he 
regarded  her  with  a  puzzled  stare,  which 
brought  a  flush  to  her  cheeks  and  added 
to  her  charm.  Once,  or  twice,  he  tried 
to  broach  the  subject  of  her  changed  for 
tunes  by  a  delicately  sympathetic  touch. 
But  she  avoided  the  topic,  evading  his 


246  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 

questions  by  simply  replying  that  there 
was  enough  to  provide  for  her  father,  in 
his  old  age  ;  and,  for  herself,  she  hoped 
to  be  able  to  be  happy  in  the  new  exist 
ence  before  her,  but  she  did  not  care  to 
talk  about  a  matter  which  must  be  more 
or  less  painful. 

Her  dauntless  courage  won  his  hearty 
admiration — a  woman  with  pluck  always 
appeals  strongly  to  a  man — and  he  was 
heartily  sorry  when  they  drew  up  before 
his  sister's  door.  The  drive  had  been  a 
unique  experience,  and  one  that  was  dis 
tinctly  pleasant. 

They  found  Glendening  sitting  bol 
stered  up  among  his  pillows,  watching, 
with  childish  impatience,  for  the  arrival 
of  the  person  who  was  to  belong  exclus 
ively  to  his  own  self.  They  had  been  good 
friends  in  the  past,  when  Beth  occasion 
ally  stole  up  into  his  room  to  tell  him 
stories  on  the  rare  occasions  when  she 
visited  at  the  house,  and  the  boy  had  not 
forgotten  her  during  her  two  years'  ab 
sence.  Now  she  was  to  be  all  his  own, 


A  TWENTIETH  CENTURY  ROMANCE.      247 

and,  when  she  bent  above  him  to  whis 
per,  "We  will  begin  to  live  and  be  happy, 
now,  Glen — just  you  and  I  together,"  he 
threw  his  arms  about  her  neck,  and  drew 
her  face  down  to  his  with  a  sob  of  glad 
ness. 

"  I'm  all  right  now,  Daddy,"  he  said, 
later  on,  when  his  father  carried  him  off 
to  bed.  "She's  the  stuff,  you  know.  I 
shan't  mind  not  being  like  the  other  fel 
lows,  as  long  as  I  can  have  her!" 


248  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

Beth  fitted  into  her  new  life  as  if  crea 
ted  for  it.  She  and  her  little  crippled 
charge  were  left  unmolested  in  their  cosy 
quarters,  for  Mrs.  Costelli  was  immersed 
in  the  surging  tide  of  the  Season,  and 
found  little  time  to  visit  Glen's  sanctum. 
When  she  did  run  in  on  them  for  a 
breathless  moment,  however,  she  mar 
velled  at  the  look  of  sweet  content  in  the 
girl's  face,  wondering  how  she  could  so 
easily  resign  the  glories  of  her  old  posi 
tion  in  the  world. 

As  for  Glen,  his  thin  little  face  lost  its 
expression  of  pathetic  patience,  and 
caught  something  of  the  eagerness  of 
youth  and  boyhood. 

They  always  had  something  absorb 
ingly  interesting  on  hand.  Now  it  was 
photography  in  which  Beth  grew  profi- 


A  TWENTIETH  CENTURY  ROMANCE.      249 

cient,  and  took  snap  shots  of  every  object 
within  range  of  the  little  'hawkeye', 
while  the  developing  of  the  pictures  was 
an  endless  delight  to  Glen. 

Then  it  was  the  collecting  of  foreign 
stamps,  a  field  which  furnished  inexhausti 
ble  joys  to  the  invalid,  and  had  the  added 
attraction  of  being  an  interest  he  could 
share  in  common  with  "the  other  fel 
lows." 

Montgomery,  true  to  his  resolve  not  to 
let  "the  little  girl"  feel  her  changed  po 
sition  any  more  than  could  be  helped, 
managed  to  drop  in  on  them  very  often, 
until  it  became  a  settled  habit  for  him  to 
spend  a  half  hour,  or  so,  with  them 
nearly  every  afternoon. 

There  grew  to  be  something  peculiarly 
attractive  to  him  about  that  square,  sunny 
room,  which  Beth  had  filled  with  plants, 
in  whose  growth  and  blossoming  Glen 
had  become  as  interested  as  she  herself. 
Two  canaries  sang  joyously  in  their  gild 
ed  prisons — a  lesson  for  Glen,  to  which 
she  often  pointed  out  the  moral,  especially 


250  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 

on  those  days  when  his  affliction  seemed 
unbearable. 

And  then  there  was  Beth  herself,  sweet 
as  the  flowers  and  contentedly  joyous  as 
the  birds,  and  bright  as  the  sunbeams 
themselves !  Always  ready  to  help,  to 
sympathize,  to  condole  or  to  rejoice ; 
as  restful,  as  wholesome  as  Nature  her 
self. 

But  Montgomery  did  not  analyze — he 
enjoyed ! 

"  Why  do  you  come  to  see  me  so  much, 
now,  Uncle  Mont?"  questioned  Glen, 
one  snowy  afternoon,  when  Mr.  Blair 
had  "dropped  in"  earlier  than  usual. 

Beth  was  popping  corn  over  the  red 
coals  glowing  in  the  grate,  and  the  flicker 
ing  light  danced  in  her  eyes  and  flushed 
her  cheeks,  while  a  sudden  dimple  tucked 
itself  into  the  corner  of  her  mouth  at  the 
boy's  abrupt  question. 

"  You're  an  impolite  young  gentle 
man  !"  declared  his  uncle.  "Aren't  you 
glad  to  see  me,  I'd  like  to  know?" 

Glen  nodded.     "But   you  never  used 


A  TWENTIETH  CENTURY  ROMANCE.      251 

to  come  at  all!"  he  persisted.  "  Why 
do  you  do  it  now?  Is  it  'cause  Beth  is 
here,  Uncle  Mont?" 

Beth  here  interrupted  the  catechism 
with  a  little  cry ;  the  popper  had  rested 
too  near  the  amorous  coals  and  the  fluffy, 
white  kernels  were  blazing  themselves 
into  charred,  black  balls.  Montgomery 
rushed  to  the  rescue  and  by  the  time  the 
fire  had  been  extinguished,  Glen  had 
forgotten  his  questions  in  new  interests, 
while  he  munched  contentedly,  on  the 
rescued  remains  of  the  popcorn. 

"Well,  this  is  cosy!"  cried  Jack  Cos- 
telli,  breaking  in  upon  them,  in  snow- 
powdered  garments. 

Beth  sprang  up.  "  Oh,  do  come  in," 
she  cried,  brightly,  whirling  a  big  arm 
chair  into  the  circle  about  the  fire. 
"  Glen  was  just  wondering  why  you  had 
not  been  in  to  see  him  to-day." 

Jack  nodded  to  Mont,  and  bent  ten 
derly  over  his  boy. 

"  Did  you  miss  the  old  Dad,  even  with 
Miss  Dare  showering  you  with  atten- 


252  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 

tions?  You  rascal!  There,  there  is  a  re 
ward  for  your  noble  behavior!" 

He  tossed  a  package  of  foreign  stamps 
upon  the  couch,  and  sank  into  the  arm 
chair  with  a  sigh  of  contentment. 

"  Snow  outside,  but  warmth  and  smiles 
of  welcome  inside  ;  that's  what  4  home' 
should  feel  like,  eh,  Mont?" 

Blair  nodded ;  he  had  been  thinking 
something  like  that  himself,  lately. 

"  I  wish  there  need  be  none  out  in  the 
snow,"  murmured  Beth,  wistfully,  rais 
ing  her  eyes  to  the  window,  where 
the  shadows  already  gathered  ;  then  she 
busied  herself  with  the  tea  things,  putting 
in  a  word  now  and  then,  as  the  others 
talked. 

"  There's  mamma  !"  cried  Glen,  as  the 
bang  of  a  carriage  door  reached  them 
through  the  snow-muffled  air  outside, 
and  the  rustling  of  silk  skirts  told  them 
the  mistress  of  the  house  had  returned. 
A  moment  later  and  she  entered,  breezy, 
bright,  beautiful.  "Heavens!  how  cold 


A  TWENTIETH  CENTURY  ROMANCE.      253 

it  is,"  she  cried,  stretching  her  hands  over 
the  fire  and  glancing  about  the  group. 

"How  'homey'  you  all  look;  quite 
pastoral !  You  are  doing  Glen  worlds  of 
good,  Miss  Dare.  You  never  miss  me 
now,  do  you,  love?" 

Glen's  face  flushed  slightly,  but  he  made 
no  answer,  and  she  turned  away  again. 

"  Well,  I  can't  be  lazy,  I  must  rush  off 
and  dress  for  the  dinner  at  the  Bluche's ; 
have  you  forgotten,  Jack?" 

Costelli  yawned.  "Ye  gods,  no!"  he 
answered,  irritably.  "One  can't  forget 
when  you  are  about,  Reta  !" 

"  Hurry  !"  she  called  back,  as  she  went 
down  the  hall. 

He  rose  reluctantly.  Beth,  at  the  tea 
table,  was  pouring  out  the  steaming, 
amber-hued  liquid  into  the  egg-shell  cups, 
with  their  bits  of  sugared  lemon  in  the 
bottom. 

"  Not  time  for  even  one  cup?"  she 
asked. 

He  shook  his  head,  looking  longingly 
from  the  threshold  at  the  group  about 


254  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 

the  fire.  Glen,  nestled  like  a  contented 
bird  in  his  feathery  nest,  counting  his 
new  stamp  treasures,  and  Montgomery, 
stretched  lazily  in  the  lounging  chair, 
sipping  Russian  tea,  while  Beth  fluttered 
about,  ministering  to  them  both,  as  the 
masculine  nature  loves  to  be  ministered 
unto — unobtrusively,  but  absolutely  ! 

"  I'm  deuced  glad  I  don't  have  to  climb 
into  my  tuxedo,"  Jack  heard  Mont 
gomery  drawl ;  "  I  don't  recollect  ever 
being  quite  as  comfortable  as  I  am  at 
present,"  and  Beth's  glad  laugh  broke 
out,  as  if  he  had  said  the  wittiest  thing 
imaginable. 

One  evening,  not  long  after,  as  Blair 
was  in  the  midst  of  dressing,  to  go 
through  with  the  different  engagements 
of  the  evening,  he  was  suddenly  over 
come  by  a  sense  of  distaste,  of  weariness, 
for  the  social  treadmill,  and  he  paused  in 
his  preparations  to  gaze  at  his  half-clad 
reflection  in  the  glass,  with  a  look  of 
disgust. 

"  What  an  ass  you  are !"  he  muttered. 


A  TWENTIETH  CENTURY  ROMANCE.      255 

"  You're  playing  the  part  of  a  court-fool ; 
skipping  and  bowing,  and  scraping  and 
grinning  to  people  who  don't  care  a 
rap  for  you,  and  who  only  smile  upon 
you  because  you  happen  to  have  stemmed 
the  tide — so  far  !" 

His  thoughts  reverted  to  the  big,  cosy 
room,  which  was  beginning  to  influence 
him  strangely.  He  saw  Beth's  golden 
brown  head  as  it  bent  over  Glen,  bright 
ening  the  boy's  pale  face  with  the  sun 
shine  of  unselfish  love.  Only  two  years 
ago  and  Beth  had  been  one  of  his  com 
rades  in  the  paths  of  pleasure ;  now  she 
was  poor  and  forgotten.  So  it  would  be 
with  him  if  he  dropped  out.  What  was 
the  use  of  it  all,  then?" 

A  sudden  longing  for  something  real, 
and  true,  and  lasting  surged  over  him. 
He  flung  aside  the  dress  suit  and  slipped 
into  his  business  coat.  "  I'll  go  up  there 
and  surprise  them, "he  murmured,  smiling 
to  himself. 

It  was  after  nine  when  he  reached  his 
sister's  house,  but  a  light  still  burned  in 


256  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 

Glen's  sitting-room.  Montgomery  crept 
stealthily  to  the  half-open  door  and  looked 
in.  A  big  fire  crackled  and  sputtered  on 
the  andirons,  and  Glen  lay  on  his  couch, 
his  eager  face  turned  towards  Beth,  as 
she  sat  on  a  stool  beside  him. 

"But  it  wasn't  so!"  she  was  saying, 
her  voice  low,  and  sweet,  and  full  of  feel 
ing.  "  The  big  giant  Despair  was  really 
and  truly  killed,  after  all,  and  who  do 
you  suppose  it  was  that  killed  him?" 

"  The  monster  fiend?"  questioned  the 
boy,  breathlessly. 

Beth  shook  her  head.  "Oh,  no!  It 
was  the  beautiful  and  gentle  lad  we  called 
Love,  you  know." 

Glen  opened  wide  his  eyes.  "  But  he 
was  a  little  chap,  and  almost  as  useless 
as  I." 

The  listener  outside  was  fascinated  by 
the  expression  on  the  girl's  face  as  she 
answered  softly,  "  Yes,  he  was  a  little 
lad,  but  all  things  are  possible  to  Love, 
my  darling." 

The  boy  sighed,  and  then  smiled.     "  I 


A  TWENTIETH  CENTURY  ROMANCE.      257 

see,"  he  whispered.  "  Your  story  means 
that  I  can  do  just  as  much  good  in  the 
world  as  if  I  were  like  the  other  boys. 
I'll  try  to,  Beth,  like  the  little  lad  called 
Love,  just  for  your  sake!" 

She  nestled  her  face  against  his.  "  Just 
remember,  sweetheart,  that  to  Love  all 
things  are  possible,"  she  whispered. 

Montgomery's  eyes  felt  moist,  some 
how,  and  he  would  have  been  glad  to 
slip  away  unobserved,  but  as  Beth  rose 
she  saw  him,  and  he  had  to  come 
forward. 

"  I  cut  the  gimcracks  to-night,"  he 
explained,  lucidly.  "  They  bore  me,  any 
way.  I'm  all  out  of  gear,  and  came  to 
you  two  to  get  smoothed  out.  Isn't  it  late 
for  the  old  gentleman  to  be  sitting  up?" 

"  Very,  but  we  got  so  interested  we 
forgot  about  going  to  bed." 

"  I'll  carry  the  chap  up  to-night," 
Montgomery  said,  lifting  the  frail  little 
form  in  his  arms. 

"  Oh,  wait,"  cried  the  boy,  as  he  felt 


258  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 

himself  carried  away.     "  I  want  to  say 
good-night  to  Beth." 

The  girl  blushed  slightly,  and  shook 
her  head.  Glen  said  nothing,  but  the 
wistful  eyes  filled  with  slow  tears,  and 
unable  to  stand  that,  Beth  came  close, 
the  flush  deepening  in  her  cheeks.  Glen's 
head  rested  against  his  uncle's  broad 
shoulder,  and  she  was  obliged  to  stand  on 
tiptoe  to  reach  the  little  invalid's  tremb 
ling  lips.  Her  veiled  eyes  were  not  lifted, 
but,  as  her  hair  brushed  against  the  tweed 
coat  sleeve,  a  wave  of  hot  color  flamed 
her  face,  forehead  and  ears,  while  Mont 
gomery  was  astonished  to  feel  an  odd 
sensation  stir  in  the  depths  of  his  being 
somewhere. 


A  TWENTIETH  CENTURY  ROMANCE.      259 


CHAPTER    V. 


"  Hello!  old  chappie,  where  the  mis 
chief  have  you  been  lately?  Missed  you 
at  all  the  doings  this  past  month.  Every 
one  wondering  what's  come  over  you. 
Why  are  you  fighting  shy,  anyway?" 

"  Been  busy,"  Blair  replied,  shortly. 

The  other  whistled,  then  laughed. 
"  When  a  fellow  like  you  gives  that  ex 
cuse  there  is  the  deuce  and  all  to  pay," 
he  said,  adding,  sotto  voce,  "generally  a 
woman  in  the  background,  you  know." 

"Hold  your  tongue!"  Blair  growled, 
frowning.  "  Because  you  are  up  to  that 
sort  of  thing  is  no  reason  every  other 
man  must  go  the  pace." 

"Whew!"  his  friend  regarded  him 
thoughtfully.  "It  must  be  a  genuine 
love  affair,  then.  I  wouldn't  have  guessed 
it  of  you,  old  chap.  Congratulations, 
cards  out,  all  that?" 


260  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 

Blair  wrenched  himself  free  from  the 
detaining  grasp,  and  strode  along  with 
crimsoned  face  and  furrowed  brow. 

"  By  jove  !"  he  muttered,  "  the  ass  hit 
it  right,  after  all.  I'm  in  love  with  her 
and  I  didn't  know  it  myself  !"  he  laughed. 
"I  didn't  know  what  it  was  ailed  me!" 

He  suddenly  became  conscious  that  a 
bird  was  singing  happily  near  by.  He 
raised  his  head  and  saw  the  gay  crocuses 
springing  through  the  sodden  earth. 
Spring  had  come  ! 

"  I'll  go  and  tell  her,"  he  whispered  to 
the  spirit  of  spring  which  caressed  his 
forehead.  "  I'm  not  good  enough  for  her, 
I  know  that,  but  I  want  her  to  know 
about  it,  anyway." 

It  seemed  as  if  his  feet  were  winged, 
and  he  had  never  reached  his  sister's 
home  so  soon. 

Beth  was  singing,  so  were  the  canaries, 
and  Glen's  couch  had  been  drawn  into 
the  square  window,  where  he  could  catch 
every  sunbeam.. 

"  Oh,     hello !"     he    cried,    gleefully, 


A  TWENTIETH  CENTURY  ROMANCE.      261 

catching  sight  of  his  uncle.  "  How  jolly 
you've  come  !  Now  he  can  tell  us  that 
story  he  promised  us  last  time,  can't  he, 
Beth?" 

Her  smiling  glance  met  his  across  the 
couch. 

''This  is  an  early  call,"  she  said. 
"  Glen  and  I  were  just  wondering  what 
we  could  do  that  was  fitting  for  this 
glorious  spring  morning,  and  you  come." 

"  Am  I  a  fitting  guest  for  a  '  wonder 
ful  spring  morning?' ''  he  questioned, 
eagerly. 

She  lowered  her  eyelids  in  sudden  con 
fusion,  and  his  heart-beats  quickened. 

"But  tell  us  the  story — the  story!" 
Glen's  voice  grew  impetuous,  and  Mont 
gomery,  looking  across  him  at  the  down- 
bent  head,  took  a  sudden  resolve. 

"All  right,  young  man,  I'll  tell  you  a 
story  about  a  man  who  was  a — fool!"  he 
began. 

"  What  was  his  name,"  queried  Glen. 

"  His  name  ?  oh,  well,  we  will  call 
him  Despair." 


262  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 

"  O  !  is  it  about  the  Giant  Despair  that 
Beth  knows,  and  the  little  lad  called 
Love  ?" 

"  Yes,  but  this  man  was  not  a  giant- 
there  was  nothing  great  about  him ;  he 
was  only  a  fool,  and  he  led  a  fool's  life." 

"  What  sort  of  a  life  is  a  fool's  life?" 
broke  in  the  boy. 

"  You  will  never  know  it — be  thank 
ful  that  you  will  be  spared  that,  at  least, 
my  boy." 

The  sober  tone  silenced  the  child,  who 
glanced  inquiringly  into  his  uncle's  face, 
but  the  eyes  above  him  were  bent  anx 
iously  on  the  top  of  Beth's  head,  as  it 
rested,  half  hidden  in  Glen's  pillows. 

"  So  this  fool  lived  on  for  many  years," 
Montgomery  continued,  "  and  what  he 
thought  was  content  and  happiness,  grew 
more  and  more  burdensome.  On  his  back 
was  strapped  a  bundle  like  a  peddler's 
pack,  and  in  this  he  carried  Pleasures.  It 
was  a  heavy  bundle,  for  it  held  all  the  fool 
possessed  in  life.  He  fancied  it  was  very 
valuable,  and  never  felt  the  weight,  or 


A  TWENTIETH  CENTURY  ROMANCE.      263 

weariness  of  carrying  it  about,  until  a 
strange  new  feeling  stole  over  him,  and 
then  the  pack  of  Pleasures  began  to  drag 
him  down,  and  he  longed  to  rid  himself  of 
the  burden  which  he  no  longer  treasured. 
But  it  was  not  easily  to  be  disposed  of. 
The  witches'  '  Habit '  and  '  Custom '  had 
strapped  it  tightly  to  him,  and  the  magic 
spell  could  only  be  broken  by  the  touch 
of  a  little  lad  called  Love.  But  when 
Love  drew  near  and  looked  into  the  fool's 
eyes,  Love  shrank  away,  and  would  not 
touch  him,  because  the  poor  fool  had 
wasted  his  life,  and  was  not  worthy  of 
Love's  cares  and  comfort." 

"  Oh,  but  I  don't  believe  the  little  lad 
called  Love  would  ever  be  so  mean  !" 
cried  Glen,  impetuously.  "  Beth  says  he 
is  beautiful,  and  forgiving,  and  sweet, 
and  she  says,  you  know,  '  that  all  things 
are  possible  to  Love !'  " 

Montgomery  leaned  over  the  boy's 
couch  and  touched  the  bowed  head  on 
the  pillow.  "  Beth,  is  it  so  ?"  he  whis 
pered,  tremulously. 


264  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 

She  sprang  to  her  feet,  and  for  one 
instant  he  saw  her  quivering,  tear-wet 
face.  <;  Oh,  no  !  no  !  It  cannot  be.  You 
don't  understand.  You  won't  care  to 
have  it  so  when  you  know  everything. 
Oh,  why  did  I  come — oh,  why — it  was 
wrong — it  was  wicked " 

The  incoherent  words  were  lost  in  a 
burst  of  tears,  and  she  turned  and  fled. 

Montgomery's  face  was  white.  He 
tried  to  smile  as  he  met  Glen's  startled 
gaze,  then  he  broke  down  and,  burying 
his  head  beside  the  boy's,  he  cried, 
brokenly.  "  It's  all  up  with  me.  I 
knew  it.  I  knew  I  would  never  get  her. 
I'm  not  good  enough." 

Glen's  little  life  had  been  spent  in  the 
companionship  of  pain.  Perhaps,  that 
was  why  he  comprehended  this  anguish 
that  was  beyond  his  childish  understand 
ing.  His  sympathetic  silence  and  the 
tender  touch  of  his  thin  little  fingers, 
as  they  strayed  over  the  bowed  head, 
brought  a  strangely  sweet  comfort  to  the 
bruised  and  aching  heart  of  the  man,  and 


A  TWENTIETH  CENTURY  ROMANCE.      265 

when  the  weak  voice,  whispered  softly, 
"  Never  mind,  uncle  Mont.  Don't  feel 
so  sorry.  I'm  not  good  enough  for  her, 
either,  but  she  loves  me,  you  see,"  a  sud 
den  hope  sprang  into  life  and  blossomed. 
The  bowed  head  was  raised.  "  You 
blessed  little  comforter,"  whispered  the 
husky  voice.  "  You  give  me  a  new 
thought  to  take  hope  on.  I  had  forgotten 
it  was  the  way  of  angels  to  raise,  and  to 
love,  fallen  man  !" 


266  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 


CHAPTER   VI. 


But  hope  is  as  elusive  as  brilliant,  and 
Montgomery  lost  the  vision  in  the  long 
night,  when  all  the  world  slept,  and  he 
alone  kept  vigil  with  himself.  Happy  is 
the  man  who  can  look  the  past  steadfastly 
in  the  face,  in  the  solemn  silence  of  the 
night,  and  not  shrink  back  in  shame,  re 
gret,  remorse. 

The  morning  found  the  watcher  in  a 
fit  of  depression  which  promised  all  sorts 
of  horrors  for  the  yellow  journalism,  but 
the  timely  arrival  of  a  thick,  daintily- 
scented  envelope  saved  him.  He  tore 
open  the  seal  with  trembling  fingers  and 
plunged  into  the  letter  with  devouring 
eyes. 

"  My  dearest,"  he  read.  The  words 
danced  before  him,  he  re-read  them,  then 
a  wild  glance  at  his  hat  told  how  his 


A  TWENTIETH  CENTURY  ROMANCE.      267 

heart  flew  to  the  writer  of  those  two 
magic  words,  but  another  glance  at  the 
closely  written  sheet  chained  him  to  the 
spot. 

"Yes,  I  will  call  you  so.  This  once 
only,  though,  for  when  you  have  read  this 
confession  you  will  not  wish  to  have  me 
love  you  ! 

"  When  you  have  read  it  to  the  end, 
and  are  angry  and  disgusted  with  me, 
oh  !  just  try  to  remember  this — that  I 
loved  you — and  do  not  judge  me  as  I 
deserve  !  I  have  deceived  you.  I  am  an 
imposter,  there  it  is,  out  at  last;  now 
despise  me ! 

"My  father  never  lost  his  money,  but 
oh,  Mont !  I  grew  so  sick  of  it  all.  I 
was  so  tired  of  the  sham  and  falsity,  the 
insincerity  and  unreality  of  such  an  exist 
ence,  that  I  could  not  endure  it  any 
longer!  Then,  to  be  honest,  at  last,  I 
was  homesick  and  lonely  for — for — oh, 
how  hard  it  is  to  tell — for  you !  There 
now,  despise  me  some  more !  I  never 
thought  it  would  be  so  hard  to  tell  you  ! 


268  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 

"  It  seems  so  much  worse  now  than  it 
did  when  I  planned  it  all  out  in  New 
York.  I  suppose  the  life  I  have  led  here 
with  dear  little  Glen  has  cleared  the 
moral  atmosphere  about  me,  and  I  can 
see  more  clearly  than  when  I  was  still  in 
New  York.  But  there  is  nothing  to 
excuse  me,  just  nothing !  I  deceived  you. 
I  schemed  to  get  back  here  !  Oh,  Mont ! 
I  cared  for  you  all  the  time  in  those  old 
days  ;  even  that  first  season  I  came  out. 
But  it  was  only  nonsense  between  us, 
always ;  nothing  but  the  silly  chatter 
that  one  forgot  the  next  day.  Everything 
was  a  jest.  It  never  occurred  to  you 
that  I  was  a  woman,  with  a  woman's 
heart.  You  were  gay  with  the  rest  of 
our  little  world  and  I  had  to  be  gay,  too  ! 
Yet  all  the  time  my  heart  was  so  hungry 
for  love ;  for  your  love,  and  I  used  to 
think  if  only  we  could  be  in  earnest  for 
one  short  day,  you  might  love  me  !  It 
was  all  this  which  troubled  me  that  last 
night ;  do  you  remember,  Mont  ?  And 
ever  since  I  have  longed  so  to  be  back ! 


A  TWENTIETH  CENTURY  ROMANCE.      269 

But  not  as  in  those  old,  fretted  days. 
Just  as  I  have  been  in  these  past  beauti 
ful  months,  when  you  and  I  and  Glen 
have  lived  real  lives,  and  learned  to  read 
our  own  hearts  and  to  know  each  other. 
So  I  planned  it  all ;  but  I  never  actually 
lied  to  you.  I  never  said  father  had  lost 
his  fortune.  You  remember  I  only  said  I 
had  nothing  to  exist  on,  and  that  was 
true.  I  was  starving  for  the  real  things 
of  life  ! 

But  I  had  not  lived  this  sweet,  beauti 
ful  life  then,  so  I  did  not  realize  the  mon 
strosity  of  my  actions.  Now  I  do,  and  I 
know  you  can  never,  never  forgive,  or 
love  such  a  creature  as  I !  This  will  be 
a  long  good-bye.  I  have  tried  to  pre 
pare  Glen  for  my  leaving  him,  as  of  course 
I  shall,  as  soon  as  possible.  You  will  be 
glad  never  to  see  me  again. 

Father  thinks  I  have  been  visiting 
here.  I  shall  simply  slip  back  into  the 
old,  detested  routine,  while  all  these 
happy  months  will  sink  into  my  heart 
like  dreams  too  beautiful  to  be  real.  I 


270  SOCIETY  SILHOUETTES. 

expect  to  be  gone  before  to-morrow 
night. 

Good-bye !  Good-bye !  This  confes 
sion  has  wrung  my  heart,  my  pride,  my 
self-respect,  but  it  was  your  due  and  had 
to  be  made.  Now  you  know  me  as  I  am? 
and  all  I  can  ask  you  for  is  your  forget- 
fulness ! 

Good-bye!  "BETH." 

The  letter  fluttered  to  the  floor. 
Montgomery  raised  his  head  and  caught 
the  reflection  of  his  dazed  face  in  the 
opposite  mirror.  Then  the  meaning  of 
it  all  rushed  over  him,  and  he  caught  up 
his  hat  with  the  shout  of  a  boy. 

Once  more  his  feet  seemed  winged  as 
he  sped  towards  his  sister's  and  let  him 
self  in  with  his  pass-key. 

Beth's  voice  he  heard,  reading  aloud 
to  Glen,  as  he  ran  up  the  stairs  two  steps 
at  a  time.  At  the  sound  of  the  opening 
door,  she  sprang  to  her  feet,  and  the  book 
clattered  to  the  floor.  Had  she  expected 
him?  Who  knows? 


A   TWENTIETH  CENTURY  ROMANCE.      271 

He  laughed  as  he  met  her  frightened 
eyes,  and,  reaching  her  side,  he  took  her 
into  his  arms,  regardless  of  Glen's  inter 
ested  stare.  He  laughed  again,  as  he 
lifted  her  chin  in  his  hand  and  forced  her 
to  meet  his  gaze.  "You  little  criminal!" 
he  cried.  "You  small  cheat !  You  un 
blushing  man-hunter  !" 

Then  Beth  saw  a  sudden  mist  fill  his 
eyes,  and,  with  an  answering  sob,  she 
buried  her  face  on  his  shoulder,  while  he 
whispered,  brokenly,  "Oh,  God  bless  you, 
true  heart,  you  have  torn  away  the  tawdry 
curtains  which  hid  the  true  happiness, 
and  shown  to  me  the  real  meaning  of 
life, — and  of  love  !  " 


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